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Rey.  C.  T.  Mills,  D.  D. 


IN     MBMORIAM. 


|ieb.  C3)iiis  Caggart  ||TtlIs, 


♦     z"*^  * 


Born  in  Paris,  New  York,  May  4rH,  1819. 

Died  at  Mills  Seminary,  California,  April  2oth,  li 


HIS   ^A/^ORKS    DO    FOLLOW    HIM. 


'DKi^^lonazii    (Bda^nt. 


CO 

en 


A    Great    Favorite   with    Dr.    Mills.      Sung   at   his   Graduation,    and   also 
AT    HIS    Funeral. 

My  soul  is  not  at  rest ;  there  comes  a  strange 

And  secret  whisper  to  my  spirit,  like 

A  dream  at  night,  that  tells  me  I  am  on 

Enchanted  ground.     Why  live  I  here  ?     The  vows 

Of  God  are  on  me,  and  I  may  not  stop 

To  play  with  shadow^s  or  pluck  earthly  flowers. 

Till  I  my  work  have  done,  and  rendered  my 

Account.     The  voice  of  my  departed  Lord, 

"Go  teach  all  nations,"  from  the  Eastern  world 

Comes  on  the  night  air  and  awakes  my  ear, 

And  I  will  gladly  go.     From  henceforth,  then, 

It  matters  not  if  storm  or  sunshine  be 

My  earthly  lot,  bitter  or  sweet  my  cup  ; 

I  only  pray,  "  God  fit  me  for  the  work, 

God  make  me  holy,  and  my  spirit  nerve 

For  the  stern  hour  of  strife."     Let  me  but  know 

There  is  an  arm  unseen  that  holds  me  up, 

An  eye  that  kindly  watches  all  my  path. 

Till  I  my  earthly  pilgrimage  have  done. 

Let  me  but  know  I  have  a  friend  that  waits 

To  welcome  me  to  glory,  and  I  joy 

To  tread  the  dark  and  death-fraught  wilderness. 

And  when  I  come  to  lay  me  down  to  rest, 

To  sleep  the  blessed  sleep — it  will  be  sweet 

That  I  have  toiled  for  other  world  than  this — 

Yea,  very  sweet.     And  when  I  reach  my  home 

With  all  the  conflict  past,  if  one  for  whom 

Satan  has  struggled  as  he  has  for  me 

Should  ever  reach  that  blissful  shore,  O  how 

This  heart  will  flame  with  gratitude  and  love, 

And  through  the  ages  of  eternal  years 

Thus  saved,  my  spirit  never  shall  repent 

That  toil  and  suffering  once  were  mine  below. 


293124 


Biographical. 


c&ioc^zaiphiccit. 


There  are  lives  that  are  left  as  a  legacy  to  mankind. 
Their  works  do  follow  them.  They  being  dead  yet 
speak;  and  they  speak  in  deeper,  richer  tones  than 
when  they  were  here.  Such  a  life  is  that  of  Rev.  Cyrus 
Taggart  Mills,  D.  D.,  the  founder  of  Mills  Seminary, 
whose  recent  departure  has  filled  so  many  hearts  with 
sorrow,  and  left  a  sad  void  in  the  great  educational 
fabric  of  this  country,  which  he  has  done  so  much  to 
uphold  and  adorn.  There  is  much  to  learn  from  the  his- 
tory of  such  a  life.  From  the  contemplation  of  such 
a  character  we  may  be  inspired  to  loftier  purpose  ;  we 
may  learn  to  employ  the  faculties  we  possess  in  useful 
activity  and  noble  aims.  The  blessings  which  his  life 
has  conferred  upon  mankind,  the  influence  for  good 
which  he  has  exerted,  are  but  the  first  fruits  of  an  ever 
increasing  harvest  that  will  be  gathered  in  the  long 
train  of  the  years  yet  to  come. 

His  early  life  and  struggles  deserve  to  be  recorded, 
as  a  stimulus  to  those  who  are  compelled  to  wrestle 
with  ungracious  fortune  from  the  very  outset.  It  is 
conflict  that  develops  strength.  The  circumstances  of 
the  boyhood  years  of  Dr.  Mills  were  eminently  suited 
to  mould  and  shape  a  manly,  heroic  character.  He 
was  early  called  to  self-dependence.     This  developed 


the  extraordinary  business  powers  of  the  man,  which 
have  been  conspicuous  through  his  entire  life  career, 
resulting  in  the  accumulation  of  a  large  property,  which, 
with  his  noble  example,  he  has  left  as  a  largess  to 
mankind. 

Dr.  Mills  was  born  in  Paris,  New  York,  in  1819, 
Had  he  lived  until  the  fourth  of  May,  he  would  have 
reached  his  sixty-fifth  birthday.  Until  his  conver- 
sion, at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  had  received  but  an 
ordinary  school  education.  But  conversion  with  him 
meant  something  more  than  a  weak,  languid  confession 
of  love  to  Christ.  It  meant  a  quick,  ready,  and  full 
consecration  to  the  Master  whom  he  served — a  surren- 
der of  his  whole  being  to  the  Saviour  of  his  being — a 
glad  going  forth  in  the  faith  and  love  of  Him  who 
said:  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end 
of  the  world."  From  the  hour  of  his  conversion  he 
dedicated  himself  to  missionary  work- 
He  entered  Williams  College  at  twenty-one,  with 
less  than  fifty  dollars.  Educationally,  he  was  poorly 
prepared  for  matriculation.  But  this  did  not  daunt  his 
unflagging  courage.  By  dint  of  studying  fourteen 
hours  a  day,  he  soon  was  abreast  of  all  his  classes.  He 
taught  winters,  and  so  met  financial  needs  Amid  all 
the  heavy  pressure  of  work  he  found  time  for  mission- 
ary labors  among  the  poor  about  him.  "The  poor 
have  the  gospel  preached  to  them,"  was  the  key-note  of 
his  life.  He  graduated  seventh  in  a  class  of  thirty-seven. 
Up  to  the  day  of  his  death,  he  tenderly  cherished  the 
memory  of  his  beloved  Alma  Mater,  and  was  looking 
forward  to  the  fortieth  reunion  of  his  class  with  fond 
expectation.     He  held  in  reverent  esteem  the  name  of 


Dr.  Mark  Hopkins,  and  delighted  to  speak  of  the  grand- 
eur of  his  character.  A  picture  of  this  distinguished 
man  hung  in  his  hbrary,  and  he  showed  it  to  his  friends 
with  affection  and  pride.  He  indorsed  the  tribute 
which  the  lamented  Garfield  paid  to  him,  where  in 
speaking  before  a  convention  of  teachers,  he  said:  "  It 
has  long  been  my  opinion  that  we  are  all  educated  far 
more  by  personal  influence  than  by  mere  books,  or  the 
apparatus  of  schools.  If  I  could  be  taken  back  into 
boyhood  to-day,  and  had  all  the  libraries  and  apparatus 
of  a  university,  with  only  ordinary  routine  professors  on 
the  one  hand,  and  on  the  other  a  great,  luminous,  rich- 
souled  man,  such  as  Dr.  Hopkins  is,  in  the  woods 
alone,  I  would  say.  Give  me  Dr.  Hopkins  for  my  col- 
lege course,  rather  than  any  university  with  only 
routine  professors.  The  privilege  of  sitting  down  be- 
fore a  great,  clear-headed,  large-hearted  man,  and 
breathing  the  atmosphere  of  his  life,  and  being  drawn 
up  to  him,  and  lifted  up  by  him,  and  learning  his 
methods  of  thinking  and  living,  is,  in  itself,  an  enor- 
mous educating  power." 

After  his  graduation  at  Williams,  Dr.  Mills  entered 
the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York,  again 
paying  his  way  by  dint  of  untiring  industry.  He  fin- 
ished his  course  without  debt.  In  addition  to  the  reg- 
ular curriculum,  he  studied  Tamul,  in  order  to  be  ready 
for  mission  work  in  Southern  India.  Nine  of  his  class 
dedicated  themselves  to  missionary  work.  At  their 
graduation  a  beautiful  missionary  chant  was  sung, 
which  has  always  since  been  a  great  favorite  with  Dr. 
Mills,  breathing  as  it  did,  the  spirit  of  self- surrender 
to  the  cause  of  Christ.     This  chant  was   again  sung 


at  his  funeral.  While  pursuing  his  theological  course,, 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  mission  work  among  the 
poor  of  the  city.  In  church  relations  he  was  associated 
with  such  men  as  William  E.  Dodge,  Wm.  H.  Booth, 
and  Christopher  Roberts.  They  all  caught  the  spirit 
of  consecration  to  God  and  humanity. 

In  September,  1848,  at  Ware,  Massachusetts,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Susan  L  Tolman,  for  six  years  an  as-^ 
sociate  with  Mary  Lyon  at  Mount  Holyoke,  both  as 
pupil  and  teacher.  With  a  life  companion  equally  con- 
secrated to  missionary  work,  he  sailed  at  once  for  India 
under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Board,  which  then 
embraced  both  the  Presbyterian  and  the  Congrega- 
tional denominations.  He  was  stationed  in  Ceylon, 
where  for  five  years  he  had  the  presidency  of  the  Batte- 
cotta  Seminary,  educating  young  men  for  the  ministry 
and  missions.  In  the  administration  of  affairs  here, 
the  superior  financial  ability  of  Dr.  Mills  was  mani- 
festly apparent.  Wonderful  success  attended  his 
work.  After  six  years  of  devoted  service,  impaired 
health  necessitated  an  interval  of  rest  and  recruiting. 
But  medical  advice  forbade  his  return  to  the  field  on 
peril  of  his  life.  In  speaking  of  this  recently,  Dr. 
Mills  said:  '•  It  was  the  saddest  day  of  my  life  when 
I  was  told  I  could  not  return."  But  he  still  worked  for 
the  cause  he  loved,  by  arousing  an  interest  in  the 
churches  of  the  East,  and  laying  before  them  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  work.  He  was  called  to  a  pastorate  in 
Berkshii-e,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  greatly  beloved.  But 
two  years'  labor  showed  that  his  strength  was  insuffi- 
cient for  pastoral  work.  He  now  entered  business  life 
as  his  only  resource   during  the  interval   of  recupera- 


13 

tion.  This  was  not  his  chosen  work.  And  after  two 
years  he  felt  the  divine  command  stirring  within  him  ^ 
"Go,  teach  all  nations!"  and  he  obeyed  by  accepting 
the  position  of  President  of  Oahu  College,  near  Hono- 
lulu. This  college  was  established  for  the  education 
of  the  children  of  missionaries  and  other  foreign  resi- 
dents. Here  he  remained  four  years,  doing  a  grand 
work,  bringing  the  College  from  a  condition  of  de- 
pendence, that  called  for  several  thousand  dollars  a 
year  from  the  Board,  to  a  self-supporting  basis.  It  has 
continued  on  a  paying  basis  up  to  the  present  time. 
But  to  a  constitution  already  impaired  by  his  stay  in 
India,  the  climate  of  the  Islands  proved  deteriorating, 
and  he  was  again  forced  to  give  up  the  work  he  so 
much  loved.  Miss  Atkins  of  Benicia,  who  was  visiting 
the  Islands  en  route  to  China,  on  learning  of  the  en- 
forced change  of  climate,  said  :  "  You  must  go  to  Cali- 
fornia!" In  1865,  Dr.  Mills  purchased  Miss  Atkins' 
school  at  Benicia,  the  pioneer  institution  for  young 
ladies,  and  entered  upon  his  great  educational  work  in 
this  State.  Here  he  labored  for  seven  years.  From  a 
famil)  numbering  less  than  forty,  it  rapidly  outgrew 
all  accommodations,  and  larger  quarters  were  impera- 
tively demanded.  With  that  marvelous  business  fore- 
cast which  characterized  his  entire  career,  and  his 
wonderful  executive  ability,  he  managed  to  secure 
lands  that  rapidly  appreciated  in  value,  and  when  the 
time  came  for  enlarged  work,  it  found  him  ready  to 
prosecute  his  plans  successfully.  Owning  the  present 
beautiful  site,  he  decided  to  build  here,  thus  securing 
a  healthy  location,  secluded,  yet  easy  of  access.  Gen- 
■erous  contributions  were  made  by  friends  of  education 


14 

to  induce  the  removal  from  Benicia  and  to  aid  the  work. 
Some  tvvent3'-five  thousand  dollars,  in  money,  and 
five  thousand  dollars  in  other  gifts,  exclusive  of  a 
sum  raised  for  the  building  of  the  church,  were  con- 
tributed for  the  purpose.  Energetic,  liberal  friends 
were  not  wanting  at  this  juncture.  But  the  outlay,  as 
is  always  the  case  where  such  a  vast  enterprise  is  pro- 
jected, far  exceeded  the  original  estimate.  No  less 
than  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars  were  in- 
vested at  the  start.  Heavy  financial  burdens  now 
pressed  upon  the  indefatigable  founder.  But  the  se- 
quel proved  him  equal  to  the  emergency.  In  1871, 
the  Seminary  was  re-opened  in  its  new  surroundings. 
It  was  very  much  against  the  wish  of  Dr.  Mills  that 
the  Seminary  should  bear  his  name.  His  modest, 
retiring  nature  shrunk  from  any  such  conspicuity.  He 
chose  the  name  "Alderwood,"  and  insisted  that  the 
institution  be  called  "  Alderwood  Seminary."  The 
first  intimation  that  he  had  of  the  christening  of  the 
Seminary  as  "  Mills,"  was  from  the  architects'  pictures. 
From  all  of  these  that  came  into  his  hands,  he  erased 
the  name,  but  he  labored  in  vain  in  this  regard.  The 
name,  "  Mills  Seminary,"  still  adhered  to  the  institu- 
tion that  he  founded  in  love,  faith,  and  prayer.  It 
was  a  grand  success  from  the  very  day  of  its  inau- 
guration. Year  by  year  new  buildings  and  other  im- 
provements have  been  added,  until  to-day  Mills  Sem- 
inary stands  in  proud  preeminence  among  the  best 
educational  institutions  of  the  country,  representing  in 
solid  values  not  less  than  two  hundred  and  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars,  with  eight  scholarships,  aggregating 
over  twenty  thousand   dollars,  which  are  used  for  the 


15 

benefit  of  gifted  young  women  who  are  without  the 
necessary  means  of  education.  Nearly  all  these 
scholarships  have  been  secured  by  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Mills,  many  of  them  having  been  given  by  Eastern 
friends.  It  should  be  remembered  that  means  to  carry 
forward  such  a  vast  enterprise  as  this  could  never  be 
secured  from  a  Seminary  with  such  generous  appoint- 
ments as  are  to  be  found  here.  Investments  in  out- 
side property,  wisely  selected  and  carefully  adminis- 
tered, directed  by  financial  skill  and  turned  to  good 
account,  have  been  the  secret  of  the  wonderful  pecu- 
niary success  of  Dr.  Mills.  His  faultless  taste  is 
exhibited  in  the  grounds  around  the  Seminary,  They 
comprise  eighty-five  acres  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  Over  fifty  thousand  trees  have  been  set 
out.  Only  a  day  or  two  before  his  death.  Dr.  Mills 
ordered  the  planting  of  a  large  number  more,  which 
were  to  serve  as  a  break-wind  to  a  lovely  build- 
ing-site near  the  church,  where  he  hoped  to  build  a 
little  cottage,  in  which  he  might,  with  his  devoted 
wife,  spend  the  sunset  hours  of  his  life.  The  spot  is 
dedicated  to  his  tomb,  and  will  be  made  as  lovely  as 
affection  can  devise.  The  whole  place  is  extremely 
beautiful,  full  of  sweet  surprises  and  enchanting  land- 
scape pictures.  It  tells  the  story  of  its  consecrated 
founder.  It  is  a  grand  and  beautiful  monument  to  a 
life  of  unselfish,  Christ-like  devotion  to  mankind.  It 
was  the  aim  of  the  founders  of  Mills  Seminary  to  seek 
to  lay  the  foundation  for  a  permanent  institution  of 
the  highest  order,  conducted  on  true  Christian  princi- 
ples, where  pupils  should  be  always  surrounded  by  an 
atmosphere  of    Christian    influence.     Their  aim   has 


i6 

been  eminently  successful.  Believing  that  secular  ed- 
ucation should  never  be  divorced  from  religious  train- 
ing, they  desired  that  the  two  should  be  so  combined 
that  the  young  women  who  were  here  trained  should 
not  only  become  mentally  but  spiritually  strong,  well- 
fitted  for  the  duties  of  a  noble,  Christian  womanhood. 
Nearly  three  hundred  Alumnae  revere  and  honor  their 
beloved  Alma  Mater,  and  over  sixteen  hundred  pupils 
are  widely  scattered,  exerting  a  mighty  influence  as 
daughters,  wives,  mothers  and  teachers.  Who  shall 
estimate  the  value  of  a  work  like  this.r* 

It  should  be  remembered,  also,  in  this  connection, 
that  this  noble  gift  not  only  represents  the  great 
monied  value  attached  thereto,  but,  in  fact,  the  entire 
life-work  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mills.  "'  Put  somethino;  of 
thyself  into  thy  gift,  if  thou  wouldst  render  it  sacred 
and  immortal,"  says  an  eminent  writer.  Dr,  and 
Mrs.  Mills  have  embodied  their  whole  lives  in  this 
sacred  legacy  to  the  young  women  of  this  Western 
world.  It  is,  as  it  were,  the  grand  ultimate  of  all  that 
has  preceded  it,  of  experience,  labor,  love  and  devo- 
tion.    It  will  prove  an  immortal  heritage. 

As  is  well  known,  this  noble  Institution  ceased  to 
be  private  property  some  seven  years  ago.  It  was  in- 
corporated under  the  laws  of  the  State,  and  deeded  to 
a  self-perpetuating  Board  of  Trustees,  to  be  held  by 
them  and  their  successors  forever,  for  the  specific  pur- 
pose of  educating  young  ladies.  According  to  the 
terms  of  the  gift,  the  school  must  be  Christian  in  char- 
acter but  not  sectarian. 

It  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  the  final  illness  of  Dr. 
Mills  was  very  largely  the  result  of  overwork.     The 


17 

dregs  of  the  disease  contracted  in  India  had  never 
been  eradicated  Shortly  before  his  death  he  remark- 
ed to  a  friend :  "  For  thirty  years  I  have  scarcely 
known  what  it  was  to  be  free  from  pain."  "  And  yet 
you  say  so  little  about  it  ? ''  He  replied  :  "  Why  should 
I  trouble  others  with  it  ? "'  This  was  a  true  expression 
of  his  heroic,  unselfish  spirit  and  life.  But,  with  all  his 
feebleness,  he  was  resolved  on  liquidating  a  heavy  debt 
that  hung  over  the  Seminary.  He  combated  success- 
fully with  this  debt  of  eighty  thousand  dollars.  When 
the  Institution  was  deeded  to  the  State,  fifty  thousand 
dollars  of  this  debt  was  still  unpaid.  All  of  this,  except 
about  seven  thousand  dollars,  he  has  paid  himself.  Of 
the  seven  thousand  Mr.  J.  P.  Pierce,  of  Santa  Clara,  gen- 
erously gave  three  thousand,  Hon.  William  Hyde,  of 
Ware,  Mass.,  a  life-long  friend,  three  thousand,  and 
Mrs.  M.  S.  Percy,  of  Oakland,  through  Dr.  Eells,  one 
thousand. 

So,  also,  the  money  for  the  beautiful  library  build- 
ing, now  in  process  of  erection,  was  secured  by  Mrs. 
Mills  from  a  devoted  friend  in  the  East.  During  the 
twenty  years'  labor  in  California,  over  one  hundred 
pupils  have  been  aided  in  securing  an  education,  in 
part,  at  least,  by  Dr.  Mills.  Of  these  things  he  never 
spoke.  Nor  was  this  all.  Remembering  his  own 
struggles  for  education  in  his  youth,  he  has  helped  a 
number  of  young  men  in  Eastern  colleges.  He  aided 
in  the  erection  of  the  church  in  Benicia,  and  the 
chapel  near  the  Seminary,  and  was  interested  in  the 
erection  of  a  church  at  Pomona,  at  the  time  of  his 
death.     He    has    never   forgotten  his    first  love — the 

B 


i8 

missionaiy  work — and  has  kept  up  his  gifts  in  this 
direction,  thus  literally  sowing  beside  all  waters. 

A  little  more  than  two  years  ago,  Dr.  Mills  visited 
Southern  California  to  look  after  some  landed  proper- 
ty that  he  owned  there.  While  there  his  attention  was 
called  to  a  large  and  valuable  tract  of  land  at  Pomona. 
With  his  quick  business  insight,  he  at  once  saw  in  it 
the  means  for  liquidating  the  indebtedness  on  the 
Seminary,  and  of  doing  many  other  things  for  the 
school  which  he  desired  to  do.  Although  in  feeble 
health,  and  illy  able  to  add  to  the  already  large  de- 
mands upon  his  strength,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  take 
hold  of  the  opportunity  presented.  For  two  years  he 
has  developed  these  interests  with  untiring  energy  and 
persistence,  and  with  results  so  reassuring  as  to  lead 
him  to  say,  only  a  short  time  before  his  blessed  transi- 
tion :  "  I  have  a  few  more  things  I  would  like  to  ac- 
complish that  I  have  planned  for  the  Seminary,  but 
God  knows  best.      I  am  content  to  do  His  will."' 

About  two  months  ago  his  right  arm  began  to  give 
him  slight  trouble.  At  first  he  paid  very  little  atten- 
tion to  the  matter.  His  spirit  was  essentially  heroic, 
and  it  was  his  way  to  say  little  about  himself.  He  was. 
always  patient  and  uncomplaining,  and  those  who 
loved  him  best  were  often  compelled  to  minister  to 
him  in  spite  of  himself,  so  averse  was  he  to  causing 
any  care  or  anxiety.  But  now  it  became  evident  that 
the  arm  trouble  was  a  serious  matter.  The  best  of 
medical  skill  was  promptly  summoned  to  discover,  if 
possible,  the  cause  of  the  trouble.  It  was  finally  deem- 
ed imperative  to  amputate  the  arm  as  the  last  chance 
for  life.   The  long  years  of  silent,  uncomplaining  weak- 


19 

ness,  superinduced  by  the  missionary  life  in  India,  now 
told  upi)n  this  good  man.  Nature  had  not  sufficient 
rallying  force  to  withstand  the  critical  test.  Just  be- 
fore the  operation,  when  it  was  told  Dr.  Mills  that 
amputation  was  inevitable,  lie  calmly  said  :  "  I  am  sure 
it  is  best."  As  the  preparations  were  going  forward, 
he  was  perfectly  tranquil  and  resigned,  saying  to  Dr. 
Wythe,  his  physician  and  warm  personal  friend  :  "  I 
cannot  thiiik  just  now,  but  I  can  trust.  I  am  simply 
clingine  to  the  Cross."  After  it  was  all  over  he  seem- 
ed  to  rally  toward  recovery.  It  was  but  a  bright  flash 
before  the  final  going.  Just  as  the  critical  moment  oi 
departure  came,  his  devoted  wife  said  to  him  :  ''  Is  it 
all  right  .f^  You  know  where  your  trust  \?>}  "  He  quick- 
ly responded  :  "Yes,  it  is  all  right';  and  gently  and 
calmly  as  he  had  lived,  so  gently  and  calmly  his  pa- 
tient spirit  took  its  heavenly  flight,  entering  into  the 
rest  that  remaineth. 

The  funeral  obsequies  were  most  beautiful  and  im- 
pressive. There  were  flowers  everywhere.  The  grounds 
were  radiant  with  blossoms.  The  hushed  and  silent 
halls  were  appropriately  garnitured  with  these  floral 
emblems  of  affection.  Loving  hands  wrought  marvels 
of  suggestive  beauty  in  the  chapel,  and  every  delicate 
bud,  every  fresh  green  leaf,  whispered  so  sweetly,  so 
harmoniously  of  the  glorious  resurrection.  There  were 
many  exquisite  floral  designs.  One  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful was  a  field  of  ripened  wheat;  half  of  the  golden 
blades  had  fallen  under  the  reaper's  sickle,  and  above 
them  was  inscribed  the  one  word  "Gathered,"  formed 
of  deep-hued  violets.  This  was  a  device  of  one  of  Dr. 
Mills'  devoted  pupils,  Miss  Mary  Bates. 


A  floral  column  five  feet  in  height,  resting  upon  a 
floral  pedestal,  was  made  of  the  choicest  white  roses, 
camelias,  and  lilies,  and  garlanded  with  black  velvet 
pansies.  This  was  a  fitting  tribute  from  the  teachers. 
The  Junior  Class  contributed  a  beautiful  floral  star, 
over  which  poised  a  white  dove.  An  immense  floral 
oillow  of  roses  and  camelias  was  the  offerinsf  from 
the  Senior  Class,  with  the^touching  inscription,  "  Our 
Benefactor,"  in  blue  violets.  A  large  floral  anchor, 
on  a  standard  of  white  flowers,  was  a  tribute  from 
the  Junior  Middle  Class.  Two  of  the  most  elaborate 
and  beautiful  pieces  were  from  the  Senior  and  Junior 
Middle  Classes.  They  were  symbols  of  "  The  Gates 
Ajar."  A  massive  arch  of  flowers  was  surmounted  by 
a  star,  with  a  radiant  crown  depending  from  the  center 
of  the  arch.  Symbolic  gates,  half  open,  were  made  of 
the  richest  dark  pansies.  A  beautiful  cross  was  pre- 
sented by  the  workmen  about  the  place.  Many  other 
exquisite  floral  pieces  were  disposed  about  the  rich 
black  casket,  and  on  the  chapel  platform.  The  organ 
was  almost  hidden  among  a  drapery  of  roses.  An  ad- 
mirable portrait  of  Dr.  Mills  was  draped  with  black 
velvet,  over  which  hung  sprays  of  exquisite  rose-buds. 

The  chapel  services  were  opened  at  half-past  one 
o'clock.  The  bell  tolled  slowly  and  sadly  as  the  Trus- 
tees bore  the  casket  into  Seminary  Hall.  The  Pres- 
ident of  the  Board,  Rev.  Dr.  I.  E.  Dwinell,  now  travel- 
ing in  Europe,  and  the  only  member  of  the  Board 
not  present,  will  be  greatly  pained  to  hear  of  the 
death  of  Dr.  Mills.  Rev.  Dr.  Beckwith  offered  a 
tender  invocation.  The  choir,  under  the  leadership 
of   Professor  Kelleher,  gave  some  sad,  sweet  music; 


Rev,  Mr.  Horton  read  a  portion  of  the  fourteenth 
chapter  of  John  Rev.  Mr.  Tabor  took  for  his  theme, 
''God  is  good,"  and  proceeded  to  speak  at  length  of 
the  noble  work  of  the  departed.  It  was  a  worthy 
tribute  to  a  worthy  man.  Rev.  Dr.  Barrows  gave 
an  impressive  eulogy  on  the  life  and  work  of  Dr. 
Mills,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Wythe  paid  a  touching  and  affec- 
tionate tribute  to  his  memory,  which  moved  the  audi- 
ence to  tears.  On  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
Rev.  T.  K.  Noble  read  the  appropriate  set  of  resolu- 
tions adopted  at  its  special  meeting.  Rev.  Dr.  Bar- 
rows offered  a  pleadingly  sympathetic  prayer,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Burrowes  pronounced  the  benediction.  The  large 
audience,  consisting  of  the  young  ladies  of  the  Semin- 
ary, the  teachers,  and  friends  from  San  Francisco, 
Oakland,  Alameda,  San  Leandro,  Haywards,  and  Fruit- 
vale,  now  filed  slowly  and  tearfully  out  of  the  chapel, 
taking  a  last  look  at  the  tranquil,  peaceful  face  of  one 
who  had  lived  only  to  bless  the  world.  Not  a  trace 
of  anything  but  peace  was  there — nay,  more,  it  was  as 
if  bright  memories  had  illumined  life's  sunset  hours, 
as  the  sunshine  breaks  across  the  sky  at  the  close  of  a 
toil-worn  day,  making  the  very  clouds  that  partially 
obscured  the  sun  more  resplendently  beautiful  at  its 
setting. 

In  consequence  of  the  inclement  weather,  the  inter- 
ment was  deferred  until  the  following  day.  It  was 
just  before  the  sun  set  when  the  sad  and  silent  cortege 
wended  its  way  through  the  beautiful,  leaf-embowered 
"  Bryant  Path,"  over  the  gentle,  winding  slopes  to  the 
lovely  spot  selected  as  the  place  of  burial.  "  Let  us 
carry  him  to  the  grave — we  can  do  it,'  was  the  plea  of 


the  loving,  devoted  pupils,  who  could  hardly  be  per- 
suaded that  their  strength  was  not  equal  to  the  de- 
mand. But  strong,  loving  hands  bore  the  sacred  re- 
mains to  their  last  resting  place.  A  few  friends,  in 
addition  to  the  Semniary  household,  joined  in  the  last 
sad  rites.  The  scene  was  pathetically  beautiful.  The 
slope  selected  for  the  grave  was  near  the  little  vine- 
clad  church,  whose  spire,  pointing  to  the  skies,  told  its 
own  mute  lesson.  The  sun  was  just  sinking  below 
the  western  hills  calmly  and  sweetly  to  rest,  whisper- 
ing suggestively  as  he  went :  "  I  do  not  go  out,  I  only 
rise  in  another  sphere."  "The  tender  twilight  with  its 
tearful  cheek  leaned  oz  the  breast  of  evening. '  The 
lights  and  shadows  softly  tinted  the  crests  and  sides 
of  the  near  hills  and  the  distant  mountains.  The 
velvety  slopes  were  affluent  with  bloom,  and  the  flow- 
er-laden trees  added  a  soft  beauty  to  the  sylvan  picture. 
In  the  distance  the  stately  old  monarch  of  the  moun- 
tains, Tamalpais,  loomed  up  like  a  mourning  sentinel, 
keeping  solemn  guard  over  the  faithful  soldier  who 
was  being  borne  to  the  "  bivouac  of  the  dead."  The 
birds  trilled  their  sweetest  music.  The  brooks  chanted 
their  rythmic  requiem.  All  nature,  hushed  and  tran- 
quil, was  in  harmony  with  the  scene.  Love  had  trans- 
formed the  grave  into  a  bower  of  bloom.  It  was  lined 
with  evergreen  and  festooned  with  flowers.  The 
opening  was  bordered  with  choice  calla  lilies,  and 
snow-balls  as  pure  as  the  sainted  dead  depended  from 
the  margin  of  the  tomb,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach. 
The  mound  of  earth  was  entirely  concealed  with  ver- 
dure and  flowers,  and  the   vast    number    of   exquisite 


23 

floral  tributes  were  disposed  all  about  the  place  of 
sepulture,  until  it  seemed  a  wilderness  of  flowers. 

All  this  was  the  loving  work  of  teachers  and  pupils, 
who  sought  some  adequate  expression  for  the  sorrow- 
ful affection  that  filled  their  hearts. 

The  beautiful  casket  was  silently  lowered  into  its 
flower-decked  resting-place.  A  touching  burial  service 
was  conducted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Tabor.  The  soft,  peace- 
breathing  strains  of  "  Nearer  my  God  to  Thee  "  fell 
upon  the  chastened  air  of  evening.  The  mourning 
friends,  teachers  and  pupils  filed  tearfully  by,  throwing 
choice  flowers  into  the  grave  as  they  passed.  And  so 
ended  the  last  beautiful  service  to  the  dear  departed. 
Nothing  could  have  been  more  in  keeping  with  the 
quiet,  unostentatious,  retiring  spirit  of  the  man.  Could 
he  have  spoken,  there  is  no  doubt  but  he  wou'd  have 
wished  to  be  laid  to  rest  in  such  an  hour,  in  such 
an  atmosphere,  amid  such  surroundings,  with  the 
friends  and  scenes  he  loved  so  well.  The  beauty,  fra- 
grance, and  repose  were  fit  emblems  of  the  Land  Im- 
mortal to  which  he  has  g-one — the  land  of  everlastino: 
rest,  where  tireless  daytime  needs  no  night. 

And  so  the  devoted  luisband,  the  royal-hearted 
friend,  the  faithful  teacher,  the  wise  counsellor,  the 
patriotic  citizen,  the  devout  disciple,  the  true  man,  the 
world's  benefactor  is  no  more  with  us.  He  heard  the 
welcoming  summons  "  Come  up  higher,"  and  with  glad 
and  ready  obedience  he  went  home.  Always  ready  to 
endure  the  cross,  he  was  also  ready  to  receive  the 
crown.  He  has  left  to  the  world,  not  only  an  educa- 
tional monument,  that  shall  prove  a  lasting  benedic- 
tion, but  also  the  richest  bequest  which  a  man  can  leave 


24 

to  coming  generations — a  shining,  spotless  example. 
His  great  aim  was  to  teach  his  pupils  the  art  of  living 
nobly,  of  laying  the  foundations  of  substantial  char- 
acter. Who  shall  estimate  the  value  of  a  life  like  this  ? 
Dr.  Mills  has  but  just  begun  to  live.     For 

"  When  a  true  teacher  dies, 
For  years  beyond  our  ken. 
The  light  he  leaves  behind  him  lies 
Upon  the  paths  of  men." 

A  sacred  trust  has  been  confided  to  the  people  of 
the  Pacific  Coast  in  this  gift  of  Mills  Seminary.  May 
they  be  faithful  to  the  trust !  May  generous  hearts 
endow  it  liberally,  so  that  its  educational  advantages 
may  be  enjoyed  by  the  daughters  of  the  worthy  poor, 
as  well  as  the  rich  ;  and  until  it  realizes  the  high  ideal 
of  its  noble  founders,  and  takes  its  place  at  the  very 
forefront  of  the  educational  institutions  of  the  land. 
In  no  better  way  could  a  grateful  people  testify  their 
appreciation  of  the  noble  dead. 

From  all  over  the  country  are  coming  messages 
and  letters  of  tender  sympathy,  dictated  by  those 
whom  his  love  and  care  have  blest.  May  the  bereaved 
one  who  receives  them — his  faithful  and  devoted  life- 
companion  and  helper — long  be  spared  to  perfect  the 
plans  which  they  had  mutually  formed  for  the  further 
advancement  of  the  work  to  which  their  lives  have 
been  consecrated.  Their  work  has  only  just  begun. 
Such  lives  and  such  deeds  are  never  understood  until 
they  are  finished.  Like  Oriental  languages,  to  be 
rightly  interpreted,  they  must  be  read  backwards. 
The  influence  of  the  great  and  good  is  never  so  potent 


25 

as  when  they  are  gone.  Their  works  do  follow  them. 
Blessed,  thrice  blessed  are  those  who  have  lived  to 
serve  their  Master,  and  to  bless  mankind!  Genera- 
tions yet  unborn  shall  lay  fresh  tributes  upon  their 
tomb,  and  thank  God  that  they  have  lived. 

Mrs.  .Sarah  B.  Cooper. 

In  "  The  Occident." 


Funeral   Addresses. 


eFti-Hera-C    Qibbzii<y<Mi^. 


ADDRESS    BY    REV.    R.    L.    TABOR. 


"God  is  good."  This  is  the  song  that  faith  sings  under  every 
circumstance;  on  wave-crest  of  prosperity,  or  down  in  the  trough  of 
the  wave,  with  all  the  billows  and  mighty  waters  threatening  to  over- 
whelm; in  May's  sunshine  or  in  December's  storm;  in  hearts-ease  or 
heart-ache;  at  the  wedding  or  the  weeping;  in  fellowships  or  in 
solitude;  with  much  or  with  little, —  everywhere  —  always  running 
on, —  this  sweet  sub-vital  stream  of  holy  trust,  murmuring  its  confi- 
dence at  life's  every  turn  that  "God  is  good." 

"God  is  good."  There's  always  on  this  earth,  take  it  all  round, 
more  sunshine  than  cloud,  no  matter  how  heavy  skies  hang  over  us; 
more  light  than  shadow;  over  half  the  globe  is  perpetually  in  daylight 
— -  always,  in  every  night,  more  stars  shining  than  obscured.  There's 
ever  more  growing  than  decaying;  more  births  than  deaths  ;  more  mor- 
tals enjoying  the  vigor  of  years  under  forty  than  those  beyond  the 
age  ;  more  pleasures  than  pain  ;  more  privileges  than  deprivations. 
So  it  is  written  everywhere  in  brightest  lines  of  light,  that  "  God  is 
good." 

Each  succeeding  age  of  the  world's  progress  God's  goodness  shines 
out  more  effulgently,  and  a  more  regenerated  world  looks  up  to  the 
Father  of  all,  in  rapturous  consciousness,  crying  :  "Thou  hast  kept  the 
good  wine  until  now."  There's  hope  for  the  world  in  the  goodness  of 
our  God.  This  is  His  world  ;  He  is  marking  out  the  channels  where 
history  shall  take  its  course,  and  leading  humanity  with  a  shepherd's 
tenderness  to  greener  pastures  and  stiller  waters. 

"  God  is  good  " ;  every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  cometh  down 
from  Him — "Him  from  whom  all  blessings  flow."  "  The  earth  is  full  of 


3° 

the  goodness  of  the  Lord."  In  adaptation  of  numberless  creatures  to 
their  habitations;  in  mountain  forests,  sounding  the  diapason  of  the 
storm  ;  in  grassy  hills,  where  cattle  seek  their  food  in  meek  content;  in 
meadow-grain  that  bows  its  head  in  ripe  humility;  in  streams  that  hold 
green  pasture  secrets  ;  in  ocean  pathways  for  the  fleets  of  commerce — 
everywhere  we  hear  the  earthly  echoes  of  the  veritable  music  of  the 
spheres,  this  song  of  trust,  that  "  God  is  good."  "  Oh,  that  men  would 
praise  the  Lord  for  His  goodness,  and  for  His  wonderful  works  to  the 
children  of  men." 

It  is  the  goodness  of  God  that  is  leading  a  lost  world  to  bow  in  pen- 
itential tears  before  its  reconciled  Lord — His  goodness  in  giving  His 
Only-begotten  to  die  upon  the  cross  that  life  and  immortality  might  be 
brought  to  light,  and  heaven's  locked  gate  opened  by  the  key  of  sac- 
rifice. 

God's  goodness  moved  the  pens  which  wrote  the  sacred  page  with 
promises,  and  covenants,  and  consolations,  and  inspiring  counsels, 
and  vital  truths  that  set  men  free.  God's  wise,  unerring  goodness 
hath  pulled  aside  the  veil  of  the  eternal  world  just  far  enough  to 
awaken  the  soul's  ardent  longings,  and  assure  us  of  the  certainty  of 
eternal  blessedness,  until  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  put  ourselves  under 
impulse  from  the  revelation,  without  feeling  that  the  best  is  yet  to 
come,  and  God's  goodness  never  ends. 

Lift  prayer  against  impending  disasters,  yet  faith  feels  sure 

"  'T  is  goodness  still 

That  grants  it  or  denies." 

The  goal  is  bliss,  whatever  may  lead  to  it ;  though  it  be  through 
great  tribulation,  is  God's  way  paved  with  "love  divine,  all  love  ex- 
celling." 

What  blessed  faith  it  is  that  teaches  us  in  deepest  troubles  to  say, 
"He  hath  done  all  things  well" — not  ^' some  things,"  not  '■'■many 
things,"  not  inost  things,"  but  "■all  things,  well." 

Could  we  at  this  moment  get  the  St.  Stephen's  vision  of  "heavens 
opened,"  how  marvelously  wide  would  seem  the  contrast  of  here  and 
there  ;  sorrow  here,  pleasures  evermore  up  where  our  beloved  has 
gone ;  tears  here,  there  all  tears  wiped  away  ;  here  a  body  worn  out  in 
toil  for  others'  good  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus,  there  a  glorified  one  entered 
upon  eternity's  youth  and  never  wearying  strength;  here  the  black  drap- 


31 

eries  of  mourning,  there  the  white  robe  of  heaven's  transfiguration 
glories ;  here  the  cup  of  bitterness,  there  the  communion  in  new  wine 
of  the  joys  of  his  kingdom  ;  here,  for  the  hving,  more  night,  and  tempta- 
tion, and  conflict,  there  no  more  night,  temptations  all  ended,  victory 
forever  achieved ;  here  the  cross,  there  the  crown  ;  the  good  fight  of 
faith  here,  yonder  the  glorious  reward  ;  this  the  inevitable,  that  the  in- 
effable ;  here  the  root  growing  in  darkness,  yonder  the  flower  bloom- 
ing in  light — but  be  persuaded  that  God  is  as  good  in  this  as  in  that ; 
good  now,  and  to  us,  as  he  is  in  heaven  good  to  our  beloved  and  our 
redeemed.  For  this  scene  of  sorrow  is  temporal,  and  passes  away  ; 
but  that  triumphant  ideal  life  in  heaven  is  eternal,  and  the  "  well 
done  "  of  the  Master  echoes  on  forevermore.  God's  hand  is  leading 
us  through  these  darkened  rooms  of  earthly  trouble  out  into  eternal 
light ;  soon  this  will  be  done  and  that  begun ;  soon  the  querulous, 
dissonant  prelude  be  resolved  into  the  magnificent  major  symphonies 
of  the  new  song;  another  wavering,  trembling  earth-voice  coming  clear 
and  full  into  the  choral  of  the  hundred  and  forty  and  four  thousand 
of  the  glorified  before  the  throne  of  God.  In  the  backward  look 
from  heaven,  how  small  these  earth-clouds  will  appear — storms  only 
sent  in  a  Father's  love  to  speed  us  more  swiftly  home  to  Him. 

So  the  sorrowing  soul  cries  :  "  I  had  fainted  unless  I  had  believed 
to  see  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living  " ;  and  the 
trusting  soul  sings  on,  "  Surely,  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me 
all  the  days  of  my  life,  and  I  will  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  for- 
ever." 

The  life  that  is  finished  here,  and  begun  on  high,  is  one  that  ever 
was  fully  persuaded  of  the  goodness  of  God,  and  sought,  not  in  vain, 
as  dew-drop  flashes  the  sun-ray,  to  reflect  in  this  world  as  much  as 
might  be  of  the  divine  goodness.  How  wx'll  his  heroic  life  of  self- 
sacrifice  for  the  good  of  others  has  succeeded,  you  know.  God  chose 
him  as  one  of  the  instruments  upon  whom  He  should  lavish  much  of 
His  goodness,  and  through  whom  He  should  in  one  direction  show 
His  goodness  to  the  people  of  this  young  western  commonwealth, 
where  such  a  man  and  such  a  work  were  most  imperatively  needed. 

Dr.  Cyrus  Taggart  Mills  was  born  in  Paris,  New  York,  in  1819, 
and  would  have  been  sixty-five  years  of  age  May  4th.  He  was  con- 
verted when  he  was  nineteen,  and  at  once  consecrated  himself  to  the 
ministry.      He  was  poor,  and  was  obliged  to  depend  entirely  upon 


32 

himself  for  his  education  both  before  and  after  he  entered  college. 
Entered  Williams  College  imperfectly  fitted ;  but  so  closely  did  he 
apply  himself,  that  he  graduated  seventh  in  a  class  of  thirty-seven. 

He  had  been  looking  forward  with  great  anticipations  to  the  fortieth 
reunion  of  his  class  in  July,  and  had  said  :  "  Once  more  I  hope  to 
look  upon  Dr.  Hopkins,  and  clasp  hands  with  classmates  :  but  that 
reunion  is  not  to  be  at  WiUiams,  but  in  heaven. 

He  did  missionary  work  in  the  outskirts  of  Williamstown  with 
Prof.  Hopkins,  but  devoted  himself  in  heart  to  the  foreign  field, 
and  with  a  returned  missionary  studied  Tamil,  the  language  of  South- 
ern India.  At  his  graduation  from  Williams,  he  entered  Union  The- 
ological Seminary  in  New  York,  teaching  in  the  city  several  hours  a 
day  to  pay  his  expenses.  Out  of  his  class  of  thirty-seven  in  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  nine  devoted  themselves  to  missionary  work ;  thus 
was  the  character  of  the  class  indicated.  He  was  married  in  1848  to 
one  who  had  been  for  six  years  associated  with  Mary  Lyon  of  Mount 
Holyoke  as  pupil  and  teacher.  They  sailed  from  Boston  for  Ceylon 
under  the  care  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  in  October,  1848.  Here  Dr. 
Mills  was  soon  put  in  charge  of  Batticotta  Seminary,  founded  by  Dr. 
Poor,  where  one  hundred  young  men  were  being  trained  as  preachers 
and  teachers.  At  the  end  of  six  years,  over-work  in  that  hot  climate 
had  so  seriously  impaired  the  health  of  both  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mills 
that  they  were  obliged  to  return  to  America;  hoping,  however,  to 
return  to  their  field  of  labor  within  two  years,  but  were  obliged  to 
relinquish  this  cherished  hope,  as  physicians  forbade  their  return  to 
India.  From  seeds  of  disease  thus  sown  in  his  system  he  has  been 
an  uncomplaining  sufferer  all  his  life.  To  a  friend  he  remarked  a 
few  days  before  his  death,  that  for  thirty  years  he  had  not  been  free 
from  pain ;  and  when  the  friend  replied,  "  Yet  you  never  complain," 
he  answered  :  "  Why  should  I  trouble  others  with  it."  When  decided 
that  his  chosen  work  must  be  given  up,  he  labored  for  four  years 
in  pastoral  work  and  service  for  the  Board  in  America ;  but  was  obliged 
to  stop  from  church  and  all  public  work,  and  for  two  years  was  in 
business.  At  the  expiration  of  that  tune,  improved  somewhat  in  healthy 
he  was  urged  by  the  Mission  Board  to  assume  the  Presidency  of  Oahu 
College,  in  the  Sandwich  Islands.  There  the  same  financial  ability 
which  has  remarkably  characterized  his  later  life  was  so  perseveringly 
exerted,  that  at  the  expiration  of  four  years  the  college  which  had  been 


33 

a  dependent  of  the  American  Board  was  self-supporting,  and  has 
remained  so  ever  since.  The  tidings  of  his  death  will  bring  great 
sorrow  to  multitudes  of  his  former  pupils  in  the  Islands.  His  labor 
was  unremitting.  Again,  a  change  to  a  less  debilitating  climate 
became  necessary,  and  California  seemed  the  best  suited  to  his  needs  ; 
and  for  twenty  years  California  has  been  his  field  of  labor.  Still 
unable  to  preach,  he  was  urged  by  Miss  Atkins,  of  Benicia,  to  pur- 
chase her  well-known  institution,  which  she  was  about  leaving.  This 
he  did,  and  there  remained  for  seven  years,  until  the  school  out- 
growing their  accommodations  and  desiring  to  establish  on  a  perma- 
nent basis  a  Seminary  on  this  coast  for  young  women,  they  sought  a 
location  better  adapted  to  their  purpose.  Some  time  before,  however, 
Dr.  Mills  had  purchased  the  present  beautiful  site,  and  here  he 
built  after  his  own  plans,  and  removed  his  school  from  Benicia ;  and 
here  his  nearly  thirteen  years  of  labor  speak  for  themselves. 

At  the  time  the  decision  was  made  to  take  up  this  more  laborious 
work  here,  Dr.  Mills  had  been  successful  in  business  operations 
outside  of  the  school  at  Benicia ;  and  with  a  competency  for  life,  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Mills  could  then  have  rested  from  arduous  labor.  Had 
Dr.  Mills  given  himself  to  business,  only  those  who  know  his  real 
business  habits  and  abilities  can  well  understand  that  this  heavy  work 
here  has  not  been  carried  forward  except  at  pecuniary  loss,  and  that 
he  might  have  been  what  men  in  California  call  rich,  had  that  been 
his  aim. 

When  considering  the  question  of  building  here,  and  assuming  all 
that  must  come  with  it  of  toil  and  care,  he  said  to  Mrs.  Mills :  "We 
can  rest  now,  and  let  others  do  this  work  for  California ;  but  I  am 
sure  we  did  not  consecrate  ourselves  to  rest  when  we  gave  ourselves 
to  Christ  and  this  missionary  work,  and  we  will  work  while  we  can, 
and  rest  in  heaven."  Those  who  best  know  the  work  accomplished 
here  can  but  feel  that  the  rest  of  heaven  must  be  sweet  to  the  patient 
toiler  for  others'  good.  Nor  has  his  work  been  here  alone.  He  took 
in  the  wide  world  in  his  sympathies ;  the  Foreign  Missionary  work 
lay  very  near  to  his  heart ;  the  home  field,  too.  In  California  he  has 
helped  to  build  three  churches,  while  in  part  he  has  aided  more  than 
one  hundred  of  his  pupils  in  their  education. 

Remembering  his  own  days  of  struggle  for  an  education,  he  has 
aided  several  young  men  here  and  in  Eastern  colleges.    His  last  gift, 
c 


34 

only  a  few  days  before  his  death,  was  fifty  dollars  to  one  who  is  in  an 
Eastern  college  at  his  suggestion,  and  by  his  aid.  His  last  letter 
dictated  was  in  regard  to  a  donation  of  land  for  a  young  church  in 
Pomona. 

The  beauty  of  the  place  is  owing  to  his  own  exquisite  taste,  as  the 
abundance  of  choice  shrubs  and  flowers  of  which  he  was  so  fond 
bears  ample  testimony.  More  than  fifty  thousand  trees  have  been  set 
out  under  his  direction,  and  but  a  few  days  before  his  death  he  gave 
directions  for  the  setting  out  of  still  more  upon  a  new  piece  of  land 
which  he,  not  long  before,  had  deeded  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Semi- 
nary. What  more  fitting  than  that  he  should  be  laid  to  rest  in  the 
spot  his  love  and  care  has  made  so  beautiful.  That  he  should  rest 
here  is  the  wish  of  the  Trustees,  teachers,  and  other  friends.  The 
spot  selected  is  the  one  upon  which  he  had  said  he  might  sometime 
build  a  quiet  home,  when  he  and  Mrs.  Mills  were  through  with  school 
work,  and  had  time  for  rest,  and  where  they  could  still  do  for  the 
child  of  their  love. 

The  story  of  such  a  life  as  his  can  never  be  finished  in  earthly  lan- 
guage. Results  are  cumulative ;  all  that  is  seen  is  but  the  first  ripple 
where  the  angel  touched  the  waters.  Rich  rewards  are  these.  Two 
hundred  and  eighty-four  cultured  daughters  of  this  Ahna  Mater,  from 
the  veritable  four  quarters  of  the  earth,  would  deem  it  honor  to  be 
permitted  to  lay  flowers  upon  his  grave  to-day ;  but  in  years  to  come, 
when  all  this  sad  present  becomes  a  holy  heritage,  a  sacred,  inspiring 
memory,  the  stones  that  he  has  toiled  to  lay  will  be  seen  in  fairer 
colors,  and  his  work  be  esteemed  more  nearly  at  its  real  worth,  and 
countless  generations  of  cultured  young  women — home-makers,  hai> 
piness-builders — going  hence  with  the  touch  of  God's  great  grace 
upon  them,  shall  bless  the  work  and  memory  of  this  sainted  pioneer 
in  Christian  education  on  this  coast,  and  still  repeat  his  song  of  trust 
that  "God  is  good — God  is  good." 


35 


ADDRESS  BY  REV.  J.  H.  WYTHE,  D.  D. 


When  I  was  requested  to  speak  a  few  words  during  these  memorial 
services  respecting  our  deceased  friend,  I  doubted  whether  I  could 
sufficiently  control  my  personal  sympathy,  and  I  knew  that  the  brevity 
which  is  necessary  would  be  insufficient  to  allow  me  to  say  all  that  I 
could  desire.  Yet  I  would  not  refuse  to  lay  my  wreath  of  affection 
upon  his  casket,  although  the  flowers  be  hastily  culled  and  but  par- 
tially arranged. 

During  the  past  five  or  six  years  I  have  had  frequent  opportunities 
of  familiar  intercourse  with  Dr.  Mills,  as  a  Trustee,  as  his  medical 
adviser,  and  as  a  personal  friend.  Day  by  day  his  character  has 
grown  in  my  estimation,  and  its  harmonious  proportions  have  become 
more  and  more  evident. 

The  grandest  works  of  nature  or  art  do  not  at  first  impress  an  ob- 
server with  a  true  sense  of  their  real  greatness.  It  is  only  after  re- 
peated views,  and  by  comparison  with  other  things,  that  the  cataract 
of  Niagara,  or  the  cliffs  of  Yosemite,  or  the  sublimest  works  of  art 
can  be  properly  appreciated.  It  is  so,  also,  with  the  human  mind  and 
character.  The  truest  and  most  permanent  splendor  is  the  least 
meteoric. 

Dr.  Mills  was  constitutionally  sensitive,  shy,  and  reticent.  A  casual 
acquaintance  would  not  indicate  what  a  bubbling  wellspring  of  gentle, 
pleasant  humor  dwelt  within.  His  intellect  was  well  trained  by  scho- 
lastic studies,  and  was  of  that  masculine  strength  which  delighted  in 
mathematical  and  metaphysical  themes.  He  was  well  abreast  of  the 
times  in  natural  science,  and  readily  detected  the  logical  weakness 
and  evil  tendencies  of  those  speculations  which  pretend  to  be  scien- 
tific without  having  a  foundation  in  real  knowledge.  He  had  an  in- 
tuitive knowledge  of  men,  which  was  improved  and  strengthened  by 
years  of  close  observation  and  experience.  This  was  the  basis  of 
those  rare  business  qualities  which  made  him  financially  successful  in 
most  of  his  undertakings.  His  success  was  that  of  plan  and  labor, 
not  of  mere  chance  and  speculation.  His  keen  eye  and  sound  judg- 
ment prompted  him  how  and  when  to  act.  Few  men  had  more 
capacity  of  this  sort. 


36 

He  was  a  truly  Christian  man.  He  had  not  only  theological  knowl- 
edge, but,  what  was  better,  the  experience  of  divine  grace.  Religion 
to  him  was  more  than  a  creed ;  it  was  an  influence  in  all  his  daily 
life.  His  natural  reticence  prevented  him  from  being  very  demon- 
strative in  his  profession,  but  his  thoroughness  of  application  anchor- 
ed him  to  the  rock.  His  was  no  doubting,  vacillating  faith,  for  he 
knew  in  whom  he  believed. 

His  wealth  of  native  and  acquired  endowments  he  laid  upon  the 
altar  of  Christian  education.  As  a  Christian  minister  and  teacher,  he 
was  permitted  not  only  to  sow  the  good  seed,  but  also  to  reap  an 
abundant  harvest.  In  Ceylon,  in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  in  Cal- 
ifornia he  was  uniformly  successful,  and  his  works  will  follow  him  for 
many  generations  to  come. 

His  unselfish  generosity  scarcely  needs  to  be  referred  to  in  this 
presence.  The  establishment  of  this  beautiful  home  for  the  Chris- 
tian education  of  the  daughters  of  California  is  a  public  proof  of  the 
ardor  of  his  devotion  to  the  cause  he  loved  so  well. 

For  some  years  our  brother  has  had  but  feeble  bodily  health.  How 
he  could  accomplish  so  much  with  so  little  physical  strength,  has 
seeqtied  a  mystery  to  many  of  his  friends.  A  few  months  ago  it  be- 
came evident  that  his  health  was  greatly  impaired,  but  as  he  partially 
recovered,  he  spent  a  little  time  in  Southern  California.  After  his 
return  his  failing  vitality  was  indicated  by  a  carious  condition  of  the 
elbow  joint.  His  physicians  called  Prof.  Douglass  in  consultation, 
and  it  was  decided  unless  healthy  reaction  soon  appeared,  amputa- 
tion would  be  required;  and  that  would  be  but  a  forlorn  hope,  as  it 
was  feared  pyaemia  had  already  begun.  All  was  done  that  human  aid 
could  afford:  but  our  worst  fears  were  realized,  and  the  final  stage 
was  very  short. 

He  was  providentially  withheld  from  the  intense  suffering  attend- 
ant upon  such  a  disease  in  a  robust  person,  and  was  conscious  to  the 
last.  As  I  had  often  spoken  with  him  of  his  inner  life  and  experi- 
ence, on  the  morning  before  his  death  I  referred  to  it  again.  He  said 
to  me  :  "  The  principal  thought  in  my  mind  is,  I  am  clinging  to  the 
cross."  A  little  while  after  he  said  :  "  I  have  been  thinking  of  what 
one  once  said,  '  I  am  too  feeble  to  think,  but  I  am  not  too  feeble  to 
trust.'  "  I  replied  :  "That  is  the  very  essence  of  faith,  and  ought  to 
bring  peace,  since  the  Psalmist  says  'Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect 


37 

peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee.' "'  He  answered  :  "  Yes,  and  I 
have  peace ;  perfect  peace."  An  hour  after  he  said  :  "  I  should  Uke 
to  have  Hved  a  httle  longer,  to  have  finished  some  plans  for  the  Sem- 
inary, but  God  knows  best."  This  was  the  frame  of  mind  in  which 
he  passed  away.  A  few  minutes  before  the  last,  Mrs.  Mills  said  to 
him  :  "  You  know  in  whom  you  have  trusted."  "  Yes,  yes."  A  little 
later  she  asked  "Is  it  all  right  with  you?"  He  replied  :  "Yes,  it  is 
all  right." 

In  the  presence  of  such  a  Christian  character,  and  such  a  death, 
what  can  we  say  more?  "  He,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh."  "  Let  me 
die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his." 

To  the  pupils  of  this  Seminary  his  example  should  be  a  constant 
inspiration.  My  dear  young  friends,  learn  from  your  beloved  teach- 
er's career  how  much  better  it  is  to  be,  than  merely  seem  to  be. 
Learn,  also,  the  value  of  a  true  Christian  faith.  While  you  get  knowl- 
edge and  culture,  get  also  a  spiritual  experience  of  divine  grace.  Dr. 
Mills  was  one  of  those  rare  men  who  have  made  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tian education  illustrious ;  but  his  child-like,  simple  faith  in  Jesus  was 
the  most  illustrious  thing  in  his  character. 

These  teachers  and  this  Board  of  Trustees  will  miss  the  genial 
smile,  the  wisdom,  and  foresight  of  our  departed  friend,  and  will  need 
increased  efforts  to  maintain  the  work  so  nobly  begun.  May  we  not 
pray  that  a  portion  of  his  spirit  may  rest  upon  each  of  us ;  and  shall 
we  not  seek  strength  for  our  work  where  our  brother  sought  and 
found  it? 

To  the  life-long  companion  and  fellow-worker  of  our  deceased 
brother,  I  can  only  trust  myself  to  say  that  all  here  present,  and  hun- 
dreds of  others,  sincerely  pray  that  the  Lord  will  deal  very  tenderly 
with  her,  even  in  her  bereavement.  As  the  earthly  prop  is  removed, 
may  she  feel  that  everlasting  arms  are  under  and  round  about  her  ; 
and  may  she  be  spared  for  many  a  year  to  reap  the  reward  of  her 
labor  ! 

We  take  the  mortal  remains  of  our  brother  to  rest  in  these  beauti- 
ful grounds  which  he  has  adorned  with  such  skillful  taste.  Amid  beau- 
tiful flowers  an<i  trees,  whose  springing  life  is  a  mute  prophecy  of  the 
future  resurrection,  we  will  lay  him  down,  trusting  in  Him  who  has  said 
"I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life."  For  "so  He  giveth  his  be- 
loved sleep." 


293124 


Resolutions  of  Respect. 


§^e^oCi^tioi4/i>    ol   cfieMpect. 


TRUSTEES    OF    MILLS    SEMINARY. 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  Mills  Seminary  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  Rev.  C.  T.  Mills, 
D.  D.: 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  Mills  Seminary  deem  it  proper  on  the 
present  occasion  to  present  to  the  public  a  summary  of  the  noble 
benefactions  of  our  deceased  friend,  Rev.  Dr.  Mills,  respecting  this 
Institution  of  Christian  education. 

In  187 1,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mills,  well  known  as  educators  of  large 
experience,  were  induced  to  remove  to  the  present  location  in  Ala- 
meda County.  About  $30,000  were  contributed  by  friends  of  the 
enterprise,  independently  of  the  church  building.  To  this,  through 
the  business  ability  and  enterprise  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mills,  additions 
have  been  made  of  buildings  and  improvements,  until,  in  the  estima- 
tion of  competent  judges,  the  property  has  increased  to  the  value  of 
$275,000. 

All  this,  with  noble  devotion  to  his  life-work,  and  with  unselfish 
generosity.  Dr.  Mills  has  conveyed  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  the 
permanent  establishment  of  the  Institution,  and  has  made  ample  pro- 
vision for  the  liquidation  of  its  debt. 

Such  illustrious  benefaction  is  both  rare  and  praiseworthy,  and  the 
Board  of  Trustees  have  unanimously  adopted  the  following  resolu- 
tions: 

First — That  in  the  death  of  Rev.  C.  T.  Mills,  D.  D.,  the  cause  of 
Christian  education  has  lost  a  generous  benefactor  and  friend. 

Second — That  the  Trustees  of  Mills  Seminary  realize  that  an  irrep- 
arable loss  has  occurred  to  the  Institution  in  the  removal  of  our 
fellow-laborer. 


42 

Third — That  we  record  our  appreciation  of  the  true  Christian 
character  and  manhness  of  our  deceased  friend.  Associated  with 
him  in  our  olificial  relations,  we  bear  testimony  to  the  wisdom  of  his 
counsels,  the  soundness  of  his  judgment,  his  financial  skill,  his  clear 
foresight,  his  genial  manners,  his  earnest  purpose,  and  his  transparent 
rectitude. 

Fourth — That  we  realize  our  sense  of  increased  responsibility  under 
the  present  bereavement,  and  pray  for  divine  guidance  in  the  conduct 
of  this  Institution,  so  as  to  perpetuate  its  facilities  according  to  the 
spirit  of  its  now  sainted  founder. 

Fifth — That  we  express  to  Mrs.  Mills,  the  bereaved  fellow-laborer 
of  the  deceased,  upon  whom  now  chiefly  rests  the  conduct  of  the 
Seminary,  our  sincere  condolence;  and  pray  that  her  life  and  health 
may  be  spared  for  many  years,  that  she  may  see  large  results  of  good 
from  her  unselfish  labors  and  example. 

Sixth — That  the  affairs  of  Mills  Seminary  College  continue  hereafter 
under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Mills,  as  heretofore  under  the  direction 
of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mills. 

Seventh — That  a  copy  of  this  preamble  and  resolutions  be  officially 
communicated  to  Mrs.  Mills,  and  be  furnished  to  the  Press. 

Signed:  Rev.  I.  E.  Dwinell,  U.  D.,  Sacramento;  Hon.  A.  J.  Bryantj 
San  Francisco;  Hon.  E.  D.  Sawyer,  San  Francisco;  Rev.  T.  K.  Noble, 
San  Francisco;  Robert  Simson,  Esq.,  Seminary  Park;  David  Hewes, 
Esq.,  Oakland;  James  P.  Pierce,  Esq.,  Santa  Clara;  Rev.  J.  H. 
Wythe,  Oakland;  Hon.  M.  H.  Myrick,  San  Francisco;  Rev.  R.  L. 
Tabor,  Alameda;  Rev.  C.  D.  Barrows,  D.  D.,  San  Francisco;  Rev. 
E.  S.  Beckwith,  D.  D.,  San  Francisco;  L.  H.  Briggs,  Esq.,  Oakland; 
Rev.  F.  A.  Horton,  D.  D.,  Oakland. 


PRESBYTERY    OF   SAN    FRANCISCO. 

The  Presbytery  of  San  Francisco  of  which  Dr.  Mills  was  an  honor- 
ed member  passed  the  following  resolutions: 

Whereas,  it  hath  pleased  Almighty  God  to  receive  to  Himself  the 
spirit  of  our  honored  and  beloved  brother.  Rev.  C.  T.  Mills,  D.  D., 


43 

and,  whereas,  it  hath  pleased  Him  to  grant  his  servant  a  long  and 
useful  life  in  the  active  work  of  the  ministry,  in  both  the  home  and 
mission  fields  of  his  glorious  church,  and  an  honored  career  in  the 
grand  work  of  woman's  education : 

And,  whereas,  the  Presbytery  has  been  favored  with  his  immediate 
presence  among  us,  and  the  immediate  fruits  of  his  later  educational 
labors,  especially  in  his  great  gifts  to  the  churches  of  the  Seminary, 
which  he  has  been  enabled  to  make  so  fine  a  success  and  so  great  a 
factor  in  the  culture  of  our  homes  and  coast: 

Be  it  therefore  resolved,  by  the  Presbytery  of  San  Francisco  in 
stated  meeting  assembled,  that  we  render  profound  gratitude  to  Him 
who  wrought  for  and  in  our  brother  beloved  the  great  redemption, 
and  prepared  him  for  the  glory  into  which  he  has  now  been  uplifted, 
rejoicing  in  the  certainty  of  his  great  honors. 

Resolved,  that  we  cherish  his  example,  revere  his  virtues,  and  praise 
the  work  he  was  enabled  to  do. 

Resolved,  that  we  mourn  for  the  School  at  whose  head  he  stood 
the  loss  of  its  faithful,  capable,  and  beloved  president,  praying  that 
his  life  and  death  may  lead  to  a  deep  consecration  of  their  lives  to 
the  dear  Christ  and  his  service;  and  that  we  rejoice  to  believe  that 
the  God  of  all  gracious  gifts  will  give  to  our  afflicted  sister,  Mrs.  Mills, 
wisdom  and  strength  to  lead  the  Seminary  to  yet  higher  successes 
through  the  years  to  come. 

Resolved,  that  this  Presbytery  and  its  churches  will  endeavor  to  be 
helpful  to  her,  in  sympathy  and  in  every  way  of  practical  aid  in  the 
great  responsibility  which  is  now  more  than  ever  devolved  upon  her. 

Resolved,  that  we  most  tenderly  and  affectionately  sympathize  with 
her  whose  heart  is  most  bowed  down  by  the  sorrows  of  this  hour,  and 
do  pray  God  to  have  her  in  His  most  holy  keeping,  here  and  after- 
ward, that  these  two,  so  long  united  in  life,  and  now  separated  by 
death,  may  be  together — "forever  with  the  Lord." 

F.  E.  SHEARER,  Secretary. 


Extracts  from  Letters. 


^ootza^t:^   izovn   £e^'^:e^^. 


From  hundreds  of  letters  received  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  the 
following  extracts  are  made,  as  typical  of  the  universal  sympathy,  es- 
teem, and  love  expressed  in  all. 

State  Normal  School, 

San  Jose,  Cal.,  April  24,  1884. 
Mrs.  C.  T.  Mills,  Dmr  Madam  : 

I  am  requested  by  the  Faculty  of  the  Normal  School 
to  convey  to  you  their  sympathy  and  profound  regret  in  view  of  the 
great  bereavement  which  has  befallen  yourself  and  your  school.  We 
feel  that  the  cause  of  education  and  Christian  evangelization  has  suf- 
fered a  heavy  loss  in  the  death  of  Rev.  C.  T.  Mills. 
I  am. 

Yours  very  truly, 

H.  B.  NORTON,  Actiiig  PrincipaL 


FROM  REV.  JAMES  EELLS,   D.  D. 

Lane  Seminary,  Cincinnati,  Ohio 

The  sad  tidings  came  without  herald,  for  I  had  not  even  known 
that  Dr.  Mills  was  out  of  health,  except  that  he  had  not  been  really 
well  for  some  time  past ;  and  the  surprise  added  to  the  sorrow  that 
would  have  attended  the  news  of  his  death  in  any  circumstances. 
Yet  how  does  the  quiet  beauty  of  his  life  throw  cheer  around  the  final 
scene,  and  how  does  our  imjjlicit  confidence  in  his  piety  arch  the  bow 


48 

of  hope  over  his  grave,  on  which  is  written  the  promise  of  Him  to 
whom  he  committed  his  spirit? 

I  do  not  think  of  death  as  I  did  in  my  earher  years,  nor  does 
heaven  seem  so  far  away  as  it  once  did.  I  have  seen  so  many  loved 
ones  pass  behind  the  veil,  that  it  seems  to  be  a  veil  only  ;  and  I  am  so 
sure  that  they  were  prepared  for  the  better  home,  that  it  seems  no 
longer  a  myth  and  land  of  myster)^  but  a  real  place  into  which  they 
have  been  gathered,  and  where  I  shall  see  them  soon,  if  God  wills. 
The  worlds  are  very  near  together ;  and  perhaps  those  now  in  the 
brighter  world  have  more  to  do  with  us  here  than  we  think.  Some 
spirits  come  back  at  times  to  minister  to  and  help  us.  Why  not 
those  who  would  most  delight  in  such  errands  to  those  they  love? 

I  think  often  of  the  life-work  of  yourself  and  husband  as  a  kind  of 
unit ;  and  of  its  consummation  in  what  will  be  left  behind  you  to  do 
good,  long  after  you  are  both  gone.  He  has  not  lost  his  interest  in 
that  work  simply  because  he  is  no  longer  in  the  body,  but  it  may  be 
that  in  unseen  ways  he  may  now  be  able  to  do  for  the  result  what 
was  impossible  while  in  the  body.  At  any  rate,  his  sympathy  and 
pleasure  in  so  grand  a  service  of  his  Lord  and  of  his  fellows  are  no 
doubt  greater,  far,  than  when  you  conferred  together  in  the  flesh. 
You  will  greatly  miss  him  in  many  ways ;  but  you  will  not  be  widely 
separated  in  purpose  and  aim  even  while  you  remain ;  and  it  will  not 
be  long  before  your  conferences  together  will  be  concerning  results, 
rather  than  plans. 

May  the  Lord  comfort  you,  and  sustain  you,  as  I  know  He  will. 
For  your  husband,  none  of  us  can  mourn.  May  the  blessings  possi- 
ble from  his  death  abound  to  all  who  knew  and  loved  him  ! 


FROM  REV.  GEORGE  MOOAR,  D.  D. 

Oakland,  Cal. 

The  men  of  college  days  whom  he  admired  are  my  admiration  also. 
The  principles  in  philosophy  and  faith  which  wrought  within  him,  in 
the  strength  of  which  he  lived,  and  in  the  repose  of  which  he  has  fin- 
ished his  course,  were  the  same  that  I  drank  in  among  the  Williams- 
town  mountains.     In  the  wonderful  way  his  Father  led  him,  and  tne 


49 

marked  success  He  was  pleased  to  give  to  his  plans,  I  have  rejoiced. 
Few  men  are  able  to  leave  behind  so  clear  a  monument  of  devotion 
and  wisdom.  In  the  loss  which  you  must  feel  there  are  yet  rare  mem- 
ories and  satisfactions  which  few  are  privileged  to  possess.  I  think 
how  many  tributes  of  gratitude  and  admiration  will  have  come  and 
will  be  coming  to  you  from  so  wide  a  circle  in  many  lands.  Death, 
in  his  case,  after  all,  seems  not  to  be  death.  It  must  be  that  you  will 
be  more  uplifted  than  depressed  by  this  "going  home." 

It  has  been  a  somewhat  cherished  thought  that  I  may  be  able  to  be 
at  Williams  at  the  approaching  commencement.  If  so,  it  may  fall  to 
me  to  pay  some  slight  tribute  at  the  Alumni  meeting,  to  one  whom 
his  Alma  Mater  will  be  sure  to  honor. 


FROM  REV.  A.  L.  STONE,  D.  D. 

San  Francisco. 

The  hearts  of  all  in  our  household  circle  are  wounded  and  sad- 
dened by  the  tidings  of  your  great  and  sudden  bereavement,  and  the 
departure  of  our  beloved  friend  from  these  scenes  of  earthly  fellow- 
ship. Ah,  how  deep  must  be  your  sense  of  loneliness,  in  the  absence 
of  one  so  near  and  dear!  No  tenderness  of  human  sympathy  can 
fill  that  vacant  place.  We  may,  and  we  do,  weep  with  you,  but  we 
can  do  nothing  to  repair  your  loss. 

And  yet,  we  would  suggest  to  you  how  many  hearts,  in  how  many 
homes,  will  throb  with  a  great  sorrow  over  the  removal  of  one  asso- 
ciated so  closely  and  tenderly  with  so  many  happy  and  profitable 
hours  of  the  past.  Ah,  he  lives  still  in  the  life  and  character,  in  the 
happiness  and  usefulness,  as  well  as  in  the  grateful  recollections  of 
those  with  whose  culture  and  training  in  their  intellectual  and  spirit- 
ual growth  he  has  been  so  fruitfully  and  efificiently  connected.  Such 
a  life  cannot  become  extinct  on  the  earth.  It  is  a  fountain,  whose 
vital  streams  flow  on,  and  will  flow  continuously  down  the  veins  of 
present  and  coming  generations.  Let  this  conviction,  even  in  the 
freshness  of  your  grief,  come  to  occupy  and  to  cheer  your  wounded 
heart. 

And,  oh,  do  not  fail  to  remember  what  a  new  and  marvelous  tie 

D 


5° 

there  is  in  this  peculiar  sorrow  between  yourself  and  the  Life  divine. 
That  Supreme  One,  whose  name  is  Love,  is  the  Husband  and  Judge 
of  the  Widow.  This  is  no  empty  figure  of  speech.  It  is  a  great  and 
blessed  reality.  It  is  for  you  a  new  bridal  of  highest  privilege  and 
holiest  joy.  Lay  your  head  on  that  sustaining  bosom !  Let  those 
everlasting  arms  enfold  and  embrace  you !  Look  up  into  those  pity- 
ing eyes!  Let  those  gracious  lips  whisper  peace,  and  bid  you  tell 
all  your  grief  and  all  your  wants  to  that  unwearied  Comforter  and 
bountiful  Provider! 

Forgive  me  for  coming  in  upon  your  desolation  and  mourning  with 
these  words  of  mine;  and  accept  from  us  all,  in  this  home  circle,  the 
assurance  of  our  tenderest  love  and  sympathy,  and  our  earnest  inter- 
cession heavenward  in  vour  behalf. 


FROM  REV.  HENRY  M.  SCUDDER,   D.  D. 

Chicago,  III. 

We  have  just  heard  of  the  death  of  your  dear  husband.  One  after 
another  all  are  going.  I  loved  and  honored  him,  and  feel  the  loss  in 
his  departure.  May  God,  in  the  fullness  of  his  grace,  comfort  you. 
Dr.  Mills  has  left  a  good  name.  I  know  few  who  have  been  as  use- 
ful as  he,  and  all  who  knew  him  will,  like  me,  grieve  that  he  has  gone. 
He  ever  seemed  to  me  a  Christ-like  man,  and  I  am  glad  that  I  en- 
joyed his  acquaintance  and  fellowship. 

Our  hearts  are  with  you  in  this  deep  sorrow. 


FROM  D.  L.  BOARDMAN,  ESQ., 

Class  Secretary. 

Troy,  N.  Y. 

I  have  been  so  unwilling  to  credit  the  report  of  the  death  of  my 
old  classmate.  Dr.  Mills,  that  I  can  hardly  forgive  myself  for  delay- 
ing so  long  an  expression  of  our  sympathy  with  you  in  your  bereav- 
ment.     Even  yet,  I  find  myself  hoping  that  there  is  some  mistake 


51 

in  the  news  which  the  wires  have  brought,  and  eagerly  looking  to 
see  if  confirmed. 

He  was  very  dear  to  his  class,  and  there  were  many  of  us  who 
loved  him  for  his  consistent  Christian  character  and  life-long  devotion 
to  his  Master's  work,  and  the  prospect  of  meeting  him  at  our  class 
meeting  on  ist  of  July  had  given  us  a  great  deal  of  pleasure.  I 
had  mentioned  it  in  so  many  letters  after  I  had  received  his  assur- 
ance to  me,  "  I  shall  be  very  much  disappointed  if  I  am  not  able 
to  meet  you  all  again,"  that  now  my  heart  almost  fails  me  as  I 
am  compelled  to  write  that  he  has  been  called  to  the  home 
towards  which,  with  his  thoughts  and  his  heart,  he  has  bent  his 
whole  energies  for  so  many  years.  I  have  thought  of  his  happy 
re-union  with  other  noble  classmates  whom  he  loved — Ford,  Silcox, 
Pixley,  etc.  To  me,  as  I  look  at  his  life,  there  were  two  great  epochs, 
embraced  in  the  words  missionary,  public  benefactor.  His  epitaph 
would  be  complete  with  them. 

He  was  our  presiding  officer,  and,  as  Dr.  Hawkes  wrote  me  a  few 
days  since,  his  death  just  at  this  period  of  joyful  anticipations  will 
make  us  all  sad  and  mournful. 

It  is  a  very  strange  providence,  which  has  thus  unexpectedly 
thwarted  all  his  and  our  plans,  ^nd  has  made  sincere  mourners  on 
each  side  of  the  mountains ;  but  we  should  rejoice  rather  than  weep, 
his  work  was  so  well  done. 

I  pray,  my  dear  Madam,  that  you  may  have  grace  given  you  to 
sustain  you,  and  strength  from  above  to  continue  the  noble  work 
which  you  both  inaugurated  so  successfully. 


FROM  REV.   D.  W.  POOR,  D.  D., 

Secretary  Presbyterian  Board  of  Education. 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 

We  were  all  sadly  surprised  and  shocked  to  read  in  the  Evangelist 

of  last  week,  through  Dr.  Field's  letter,  an  account  of  the  death  of 

your  dear  husband  and  of  the  manner  of  it.     Since  then  a  letter 

from  Kate  Stone  to  Annie  gave  us  fuller  particulars  both  of  it  and 


52 

of  the  large  gathering  at  the  funeral,  and  the  great  mourning  of  old 
friends  and  pupils  over  their  great  loss.  Hovv  painful  the  bereave- 
ment for  you  we  can  somewhat  imagine,  and  we  deeply  sympathize 
with  you  in  it.  Dr.  Mills  was  a  quiet,  noiseless  man,  but  there  was 
in  him  a  mighty  power  for  planning  and  achieving  great  things  such 
as  is  possessed  by  very  few  in  this  world.  He  lived  to  purpose,  and 
has  left  behind  him  a  monument  of  labor  which  will  last.  It  is  a  mat- 
ter for  congratulation  that  he  lived  long  enough  to  see  it  completed, 
and  have  so  many  continually  gathering  around  him  to  call  him  bless- 
ed. I,  too,  am  among  his  debtors,  and  I  wish  I  could  have  borne 
some  testimony  to  my  many  obligations  as  my  tribute  to  his  memory. 
And  now  I  feel  not  a  little  compunction,  that  I  did  not  more  fully 
testify  of  it  while  he  was  alive.  All  I  can  do  is  to  avow  to  you  my 
gratitude  for  what  he  did  for  me  and  mine.  When  I  visit  Califor- 
nia, I  shall  miss  the  fan:iiliar  form  of  Dr.  Mills.  How  far  back  the 
recollections  of  him  and  you  go,  and  how  many  changes  since  those 
first  interviews  in  Newark  and  New  York  !  Gone,  gone,  the  Spauld- 
ings,  and  the  Harringtons,  and  the  Winslows,  and  the  Doremuses, 
and  how  many  more !  And  I  must  be  going  before  long.  I  am  al- 
ready older  than  father  was  when  he  left.  Wish  that  I  were  as  ready 
to  say  "Joy,  joy,  joy,"  as  he  was. 

I  am  writing  at  the  office  in  the  midst  of  much  business      Other- 
wise I  would  have  messages  from  wife  and  children. 


FROM  HON.  WM.  HYDE. 

Ware,  Mass. 

When  the  news  came  on  the  Sabbath  that  your  husband  had  gone 
to  his  heavenly  rest,  we  could  joy  for  him  while  feeling  that  a  heavy 
burden  had  fallen  upon  you.  The  Lord  comfort  you,  and  give  you 
every  needful  grace,  and  give  you  strength  to  carry  the  load  of  care 
and  responsibility  that  now  falls  upon  you.  The  news  of  Dr.  Mills' 
death  came  before  our  evening  service,  and  Dr.  Perkins  gave  notice  of 
it  before  the  prayer,  in  which  you  were  earnestly  commended  to  the 
God  of  all  grace.  *  *  Your  husband  has  left  a  noble  rec- 
ord, and  his  work  remains  and  will  go  on  now  he  is  gone.    With  such 


53 

a  slender  physique  it  is  wonderful  how  much  he  has  accomphshed. 
His  work  was  done,  and  he  was  worn  out  in  the  service  of  the  Mas- 
ter, and  has  gone  to  receive  his  crown. 

I  have  seen  much  of  your  School,  and  have  never  seen  one  more 
thoroughly  Christian  in  its  influence,  though  Jews,  Gentiles  and  Cath- 
olics were  among  the  pupils. 

The  Lord  give  you  grace  to  do  his  will.  May  He  guide  you,  and 
send  just  the  help  you  need  to  carry  on  his  work.  We  are  all  in 
sound  health,  and  our  hearts  full  of  sympathy  for  you. 


FROM  REV.  T.   H.   HAWKS,   D.  D. 

Northampton,  Mass. 

I  have  read,  with  great  sorrow,  a  brief  telegraphic  statement  of  the 
particulars  of  Dr.  Mills'  death.  At  any  time  the  tidings  would 
have  been  most  painful  :  but  just  now,  when  we  are  looking  forward 
to  our  Class  reunion,  at  which  I  have  hoped  to  see  again  my  cherished 
and  honored  friend,  they  have  caused  peculiar  grief.  We  shall  meet 
under  the  pressure  of  a  great  bereavement. 

Dr.  Mills  was  dear  to  us  all,  and  was  held  in  highest  esteem  for 
his  virtues  and  good  deeds.  While  we  were  in  College,  he  command- 
ed the  regard  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him  by  his  scholarship, 
courtesy,  sweet  charity,  and  high  Christian  manhood.  And  since  we 
left  College,  we  have  watched  his  course  with  admiration  of  his  self- 
sacrificing  spirit ;  the  success  of  his  plans  and  labors,  and  the  large 
benevolence  that  moved  him  to  devote  his  wealth  and  the  Institute 
that  bears  his  name  to  Christ,  and  the  Christian  education  of  young 
women  on  the  Pacific  coast.  Permit  me  to  say  here,  as  I  have  often 
said  to  friends,  that  no  one  of  our  Class  seems  to  me  to  have  done  so 
noble  a  work  in  life  as  your  husband.  And  I  do  not  doubt  that  he 
was  removed  while  executing  plans  for  other  benefactions,  and  a 
larger  usefulness. 

But  if  we  mourn  his  removal  from  earth,  how  deej)  must  he  your 
sorrow  !  Accept,  I  pray  you,  the  assurance  of  my  profound  sympa- 
thy. In  this  time  of  bereavement  and  sorrow,  may  the  grace  of  God 
be  exceeding  abundant,  and  vou  be  comforted  and  strengthened. 


54 

I  do  not  need  to  speak  ot"  the  sources  of  consolation  and  hope 
which  the  Christian  rehgion  furnishes,  for  you  know  them.  And  I 
am  sure  that  you  accept  with  sweet  submission  what  God,  who  knows 
when  his  children  should  be  called  home,  has  been  pleased  to  lay 
upon  you. 

Once  more  permit  me  to  express  my  warmest  sympathy. 


FROM  REV.  L.   H.   HALLECK. 

Portland,  Me. 

The  tidings  has  just  reached  us  that  our  dear  friend  and  benefac- 
tor has  been  called  up  higher.  We  cannot  realize  that  he  has  already 
gone  from  his  most  important  work  unto  his  well-earned  rest.  How 
glad  the  meetings  there  must  be,  as  he  joins  the  increasing  circle  of 
old  friends  and  new  whom  his  life  of  active  benevolence  had  multi- 
plied to  so  unusual  an  extent. 

"  My  particular  friend  " — about  the  very  first  that  I  recall  outside 
my  own  tamily — whom  I  loved  as  a  mere  child  ; — he  proved  an  un- 
failing friend  in  later  years,  when  tokens  of  his  love  were  something 
more  than  gentle  words  and  smiles.  1  do  not  forget  them  all ;  and 
his  memory  will  always  be  associated  in  my  mind,  as  in  the  minds  of 
very  many,  with  a  deep  sense  of  gratitude  for  his  manifold  and  un- 
deserved kindnesses. 

I  hope  we  may  hear  more  fully  regarding  the  circumstances  of  his 
home-going  in  due  time. 

Meanwhile,  be  assured  of  our  sincerest  sympathy,  as  we  take  our 
place  alongside,  true  mourners  all,  pained  at  our  great  loss,  comfort- 
ed by  thoughts  of  his  great  "gain." 


FROM    SAMUEL   M.   DAMON,  ESQ. 

Honolulu. 

How  I  wish  that  on    this  bright   Sabbath  morning  the  pleasure 
could  be  afforded  us  of  seeing  you,  and  giving  you  our  heartfelt  sym- 


55 

pathy  over  your  loss  and  ours.  You  have  lost  a  dear  husband,  and 
we  have  parted  with  a  real  friend,  and  one  whom  we  have  learned  to 
love  from  his  own  innate  goodness ;  and  especially  is  he  endeared  to 
our  family  for  the  love  he  always  manifested  for  Eddie  and  May. 

Personally,  I  shall  cherish  his  memory  for  the  good  advice  he 
gave  me,  and  so  quietly  that  it  was  never  taken  at  the  time  in  the 
light  of  advice  but  of  a  friendly  conversation. 

The  last  meeting  we  had  together  was  on  a  walk  one  afternoon 
on  the  hill  that  faces  the  Seminary,  where,  seated  under  the  trees, 
he  talked  of  his  Pomona  plans,  and  then  of  the  needs  of  the  Semi- 
nary, and  especially  his  desire  for  means  to  do  still  greater  things  for 
the  Institution. 

He  had  a  remarkably  clear  head  for  business,  and  if  his  life  had 
been  that  of  a  merchant  or  banker,  he  would  have  certainly  taken 
the  lead  among  the  men  of  wealth  ;  but  he  has  left  a  beautiful  monu- 
ment to  complete  his  life,  and  we  feel  very  thankful  that  his  life  has 
been  spared  to  that  point  when  he  could,  with  mortal  eyes,  see  his 
cherished  plans  so  nearly  completed. 

It  may  seem  like  an  oft-repeated  request,  but  it  is  none  the  less  the 
wish  of  each  member  of  this  family,  that  when  you  can  be  spared, 
we  shall  feel  it  a  privilege  that  you  come  to  us,  and  make  our  home 
your  own. 


FROM    REV.  C.  M.  HYDE,  D.  D. 

Honolulu. 

The  Gazette  to-day  gives  us  the  news  of  Dr.  Mills'  death.  It 
comes  with  a  shock  to  me,  for  I  have  heard  of  no  illness  that  fore- 
boded a  fatal  termination.  We  were  hoping  to  see  you  both  here 
again,  to  rejoice  with  us  over  the  improvements  at  Punahou.  But 
Dr.  Mills  is  rejoicing  in  something  higher  than  these  changes  of 
earth,  which  we  vaunt  so  highly  as  marks  of  progress.  One  view  of 
Jesus  as  He  is,  one  glimpse  of  heaven,  would  eclipse  all  earth's  high- 
est glories.  What  he  now  enjoys  we  cannot  conceive,  but  we  can  be- 
lieve his  nature,  heart,  and  soul,  his  whole  capacity  for  the  life  above, 
fitted  for  fullest  fruition.  What  he  longed  for  here  served  as  a  fore- 
taste for  the  heavenly  blessedness,  for  what  he  loved  to  admire  and 


56 

enjoy  here  was  of  a  kind  with  that  prepared  for  Christ's  redeemed 
people  in  the  glory  that  is  to  come.  How  blessed  that  he  could 
round  out  his  life-plan  to  such  fullness  of  completion,  and  leave  such 
an  enduring  life-work  as  the  Seminary,  and  its  assured  prospects  as 
an  institution  for  the  higher  education  of  woman,  so  long  as  woman 
may  need,  or  man  can  give  the  facilities  for  it.  Kow  much  you  will 
miss  him  in  your  planning  and  counselling  for  the  future  of  the  Sem- 
inary.    Aloha  ino  i  keia  hoahana! 

Mrs.  Hyde  joins  me  in  assurances  of  our  sympathy  with  you  in 
this  time  of  bereavement,  and  the  hope  that  it  will  not  prove  a  bur- 
den beyond  your  strength  to  bear. 


FROM    REV.  HENRY    M.  FIELD,  D.  D. 

office  of  the 
New  York  Evangelist,  Nassau  Street,  New  York. 

I  have  read  this  morning  the  touching  memorial  of  your  husband 
in  the  Occident.  How  blessed  is  the  memory  of  the  righteous!  What 
a  benediction  the  life  of  Dr.  Mills  has  been,  and  still  is,  to  all  who 
bear  his  name. 

It  was  very  pleasant  to  us  to  meet  you  and  Mrs.  Cooper  together. 
May  our  Heavenly  Father  keep  and  bless  you  both,  and  preserve 
you  for  many  years  of  usefulness  and  happiness  before  you  go  to 
join  those  who  have  gone  before. 

Yours  in  tender  sympathy. 


TRIBUTES    FROM    TEACHERS,  PUPILS,  AND 
OTHER  FRIENDS. 

East  Oakland,  Cal. 
We  feel  in  such  a  time  of  trouble  as  this  through  which  you  are 
passing,  that  our  poor  words  of  sympathy  are  so  feeble,  and  that  all 
human  strength  is  but  weakness.    We  can  only  look  up  to  Him  "who 


57 

hath  borne  our  griefs  and  carried  our  sorrows,"  humbly  praying  that 
in  Christ  you  may  find  refuge  and  consolation,  and  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  may  ever  abide  with  and  comfort  you. 

We  sadly  realize  that  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Mills  another  true  friend 
has  departed — one  whose  integrity,  generosity,  and  kindness  will 
always  be  remembered  with  gratitude. 

"Behold,  the  house 
Is  dark,  but  there  is  brightness  where  the  sons 
Of  God  are  singing:  and  behold,  the  heart 
Is  troubled,  yet  the  nations  walk  in  white  ; 
They  have  forgotten  how  to  weep  :  and  thou 
Shalt  also  come,  and  I  will  foster  thee 
And  satisfy  thy  soul ;  and  thou  shalt  warm 
Thy  trembling  life  beneath  the  smile  of  God. 
A  little  while — it  is  a  little  while — 
A  little  while,  and  I  will  comfort  thee ; 
I  go  away,  but  I  will  come  again." 


San  Jose,  Cal. 

How  shall  we  express  to  you  our  deep  sympathy  in  your  over- 
whelming sorrow,  the  news  of  which  reached  us  last  evening  ? 

May  our  Father  comfort  you  as  He  only  can,  in  your  great  loss;  a 
loss  shared  by  a  multitude  to  whom  the  life  of  your  dear  husband  has 
been  so  rich  a  blessing. 

The  blessed  assurance  of  his  glorious  rest  and  reward,  and  the 
fruitage  which  such  a  finished  life  leaves  to  you,  and  to  other  gen- 
erations, must  be  in  part  your  solace. 

May  the  blessing  of  God  be  with  you  and  your  noble  Institution, 
in  this  time  of  bereavement  and  darkness. 


Grass  Valley,  Cal. 

Words  fail  me  when  I  attempt  to  give  expression  to  the  feelings 
which  have  crowded  upon  me  since  the  sad,  sad  news  of  Mr.  Mills' 
death  reached  me.  Never  did  I  appreciate  so  deeply  the  kindness 
which  I  could  never  forget;  never  did  my  loved   Seminary  home, 


•  58 

with  which  there  is  associated  only  happiness,  seem  more  near  to  me 
than  now;  and  it  was  my  first  impulse  to  go  to  you,  as  one  of  your 
grateful  children,  and  to  offer  the  sympathy  which  is  so  truly  heart- 
felt, and  upon  which  you  have  every  claim. 

Oh,  if  it  could  but  be  our  privilege  now  to  lift  from  your  heart  the 
burden  of  this  great  sorrow ;  but  I  know  too  well  how  powerless 
is  human  sympathy  at  such  a  time,  and  I  can  only  unite  my  prayers 
with  the  many  which  shall  commend  you  to  God's  support.  May 
He  give  you  strength  through  all  these  dark  days  of  trial. 


Oakland,  Cal. 

While  I  sorrow  for  Mr.  Mills,  the  sorrow  for  his  loss  is  mingled 
with  rejoicing  for  the  reward  of  heavenly  rest  which  has  come  to  one 
who  lived  so  grandly  and  simply  an  unselfish,  noble  life  for  others; 
one  who  was  so  blessedly  prepared  to  enter  this  rest ;  and  the  example 
of  whose  beautiful  life  will  live  on  in  the  purpose  and  lives  of  the 
many  he  has  benefited. 

With  him  I  can  but  feel  "  It  is  well." 

But  for  those  who  are  left,  and  most  of  all  for  you,  Mrs.  Mills,  who, 
with  him  labored  for  others  so  many  years — one  in  life,  love,  and 
purpose — and  who,  with  him,  have  achieved  such  a  grandeur  of  suc- 
cess, for  you  I  lift  the  most  earnest  prayers  to  our  Heavenly  Father. 

The  "  Peace  of  God  "  fill  all  your  heart. 


HuENEME,  Cal. 

What  sorrow  fills  hundreds  of  hearts  on  this  Coast!  Where,  before, 
hundreds  rose  up  and  called  him  blessed,  and  rejoiced  with  him  in 
his  life-work,  now  their  heads  are  bowed  with  woe,  and  they  beat 
responsive  with  sympathy  to  your  sorrowing  heart,  so  desolate,  in  this 
heavy  bereavement. 

"The  good  man  has  perished  from  the  earth,"  but  leaving  behind 
him  "  The  Seminary  "  as  an  endearing  monument,  to  speak  to  the 
coming  generations  of  his  beneficent  purposes  to  provide  a  thorough 
Christian  education  for  the  daughters  of  this  young  and  grov.lng  State. 
He  cooperated  with  God  in  this  benevolent  enterprise  and  was  spared 


59 

long  enough  to  see  his  fond  anticipations  reaUzed,  and  his  toils  sig- 
nally blessed;  and  now  from  these  labors  he  rests,  and  his  works  do 
follow  him.  Rest,  sweet,  sweet  rest  in  heaven !  Oh,  what  a  welcome 
from  the  great  Captain  of  our  salvation  has  greeted  the  faithful  soldier, 
as  the  last  battle  has  been  fought,  and  the  victory  gained.  "  Well 
done,  good  and  faithful  servant"! 

The  crowning  desire  of  his  heart  is  reached  in  the  Everlasting  home, 
"  where  the  tears  are  all  wiped  away ;  where  there  shall  be  no  more 
death,  neither  sorrow,  nor  crying;  neither  shall  there  be  any  more 
pain,  for  the  former  things  are  passed  away." 

The  shadows  that  darken  earth  are  there  unknown ;  the  strifes  that 
agitate  earth  are  far  beneath  it;  the  storms  that  desolate  earth  never 
ascend  to  it ;  there,  all  is  bright,  pure,  and  tranquil. 

Here  is  the  legacy  which  Jesus  bequeaths  to  thee  in  thy  loneli- 
ness :  "Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you;  not  as 
the  world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you.  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled, 
neither  let  it  be  afraid." 


East  Berkeley,  Cal. 

The  memory  of  dear  Mr.  Mills  is  so  closely  woven  into  the 
memory  of  my  school-days,  that  I  can  never  think  of  those  happy 
years  without  remembering  him  affectionately;  and  I  know  my  feeling 
is  that  of  hundreds  of  others,  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 

It  must  comfort  you  somewhat  in  your  deep  sorrow,  to  feel  that 
many  hearts  are  grieving  with  you. 


HoLLisTER,  Cal. 

So  one  and  another  passes  away,  leaving  a  void  in  some  hearts  that 
cannot  be  filled  in  this  life.  Yet  the  void  is  more  than  filled,  when 
the  departed  leave  a  monument  that  will  speak  in  all  coming  time, 
and  to  future  generations,  of  their  interest  in  the  intellectual  and 
spiritual  good  of  the  youth  of  our  land,  and  of  the  world.  We  love 
to  think  of  the  dead  as  yet  s])eaking,  when  their  voice  is  in  harmony 
with  the  sweet  and  gracious  utterances  of  our  Heavenly  Father.     You 


6o 

have  stood  beside  your  husband  in  those  countries,  among  widely 
different  nationaUties,  sowing  the  seed,  the  word  of  God  in  the  minds 
and  hearts  of  the  young;  a  soil  most  susceptible  to  the  reception  of 
the  seed,  and  which  has,  and  will  continue  to  bring  forth  fruit  to  the 
glory  of  God.  Yes,  my  dear  friend,  you  have  much,  very  much,  to 
comfort  you  in  this  hour  of  your  great  sorrow;  and  while  the  memory 
of  the  past  will  crowd  your  heart  with  many  events  and  scenes  that 
you  would  not  "  willingly  let  die,"  you  have  an  infinitely  sweeter 
and  more  glorious  vision  opening  before  you,  as  the  eye  of  the  soul, 
by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  catches  a  glimpse  of  the  veiled  glories  of  the 
home  of  the  redeemed  in  the  city  of  the  New  Jerusalem.  The  Sem- 
inary, simply  in  itself,  is  a  glorious  monument  to  the  memory  of  Dr. 
Mills;  but  when  existing  in  the  spirit  of  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ, 
bending  all  its  energies  and  resources  to  save  souls,  and  fit  them  for 
glory  in  God's  kingdom  above,  the  grandest  and  noblest  achievements 
of  earth  are  but  as  a  taper  to  the  brightness  of  the  sun  at  noonday. 
May  the  kind,  humble,  and  loving  spirit  of  your  husband  abide  with 
the  work  he  was  permitted  to  do  for  the  girls  and  young  ladies  of 
(California.  You  will  find  your  greatest  comfort,  and  purest  joy,  not 
in  contemplating  the  virtues  and  Christian  graces  of  your  dead  ;  not 
in  pushing  your  thoughts  into  eternity,  and  dwelling  upon  the  peace- 
ful and  beautiful  home  of  the  departed ;  but  in  striving  to  draw  the 
dear  ones  under  your  charge  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  that  their  lives 
may  be  hid  with  Christ  in  God.  May  the  good  Lord  be  with  you, 
and  comfort  you,  and  bless  you  in  your  affliction,  that  this  great 
sorrow  may  work  out  for  you  a  far  more  and  exceeding  weight  of  glory. 


Great  Barrington,  Mass. 

Outside  of  your  own  family  no  one  more  than  myself  appreciates 
the  noble  character,  the  large  usefulness,  and  true  consecration  to 
"  good  works  "  of  your  husband.  Few  men  enter  upon  life  with  such 
serious  views  of  duty ;  fewer  still  with  steady,  persistent  aim  pursue 
such  generous  schemes  for  the  well-being  of  society,  and  rarely  with 
such  disinterestedness.  Most  men  revolve  in  a  narrow  circle,  around 
that  center  which  we  name  "  self" — not  so,  Dr.  Mills.  He  lived 
not  alone  for  the  present,   but  for  all  time;  and  thus  his  usefulness. 


6i 

will  not  end  with  his  days.  Long  after  you,  his  true  help-meet,  are 
in  the  dust,  his  work  and  your  work  will  go  on,  each  decade  swelling 
its  proportions. 

Ceylon,  Hawaii,  California,  Williams  College,  Mt.  Holyoke,  are  so 
many  altars  upon  which  he  has  laid  offerings  of  pure  benevolence. 
In  the  "  Last  Day,"  how  many  shall  rise  up  to  call  him  blessed!  To- 
day, heathen  men  and  women,  Christianized  through  his  faithful  la- 
bors—his own  countrymen,  to  whom  he  has  been  a  blessing — above 
all,  a  multitude  of  America's  daughters — mourn  for  him.  Their  tears 
and  prayers  mingle  with  yours  for  him  that  has  "gone  home,"  for  you 
who  are  left.     We  all  loved  him. 

Last  night,  in  a  talk  to  our  young  ladies,  I  sketched  his  career. 
They  were  deeply  moved,  and  I  trust  that  they  will  never  forget  the 
lesson  of  his  unselfish  life. 

I  have  had  no  particulars  of  his  last  hours,  of  his  burial.  Do  not 
forget  me  in  the  "In  Memoriams"  of  Dr.  Mills. 

The  announcement  of  his  death  was  a  great  shock  to  me:  instead, 
I  was  anticipating  a  visit  from  him  in  a  few  weeks.  We  shall  meet 
there — not  here  ! 

You  have  many  to  console  your  lonely  hours.  It  is  so  little  that 
I  can  say — /  weep  with  you.     God  is  yours,  and  you  are  not  afraid. 


Springfield,  Ohio. 

The  news  of  ]^R.  Mills'  death  was  very  unexpected,  because  I 
had  not  heard  of  his  illness.  It  filled  me  with  sadness,  and  I  feel 
that  a  great  personal  loss  has  come  to  me. 

The  four  years  passed  under  your  roof  were,  at  the  time,  very 
enjoyable,  and  have  ever  been  to  me  pleasant  in  the  retrospect. 
Amid  all  the  recollections  crowded  into  those  years,  dear  Dr.  Mills 
mingles  amid  them  all.  Are  they  of  school  life?  his  presence  and 
plans  prevade  all;  of  the  charming  grounds?  his  skill  and  munificence 
has  adorned  and  beautified  all;  of  social  and  home  life?  his  teachers 
ever  felt  his  kindliness  and  tender  sympathy  exerted  for  their  pleasure 
and  comfort;  of  vacation  delights?  many  can  see  his  hand  in  plan- 
ning and  his  liberality  in  their  execution.  Yes,  Mills  Seminary,  to 
the  teachers  now  and  once  there,  is  ineffaceably  associated  with  him 


62 

He  stands  out  before  me  tonight  as  the  good,  kind,  hberal  Christian 
man  that  he  seemed  to  me  ten  years  ago. 

But  how  must  it  seem  to  you,  my  dear  friend?  Surely  we  can 
imagine  it,  but  you  only  can  know  and  feel  it,  as  in  your  loneliness 
you  find  so  much  gone  in  your  life. 

If  it  were  not  for  God's  support  and  the  assurance  that  the  separa- 
tion is  not  final,  your  situation  would  be  desolation  indeed. 

If  I  could  come  in  at  this  quiet  evening  hour  and  sit  down  at  your 
side,  we  would  talk  of  the  departed  and  mingle  together  our  tears. 
Would  that  I  might;  but  across  the  vast  expanse  that  separates  us,  I 
send  my  loving  sympathy.  The  world  will  move  on  forgetful  of  your 
loss,  your  sorrow,  and  your  loneliness;  but  here  and  there,  be  assured, 
are  many  who  will  remember  you  prayerfully  and  lovingly. 

The  number  on  the  other  shore  are  greater  than  on  this  side.  I 
am  thinking  of  the  reunion  over  there — as  I  am  writing — and  I  say 
to  myself,  how  much  richer  some  of  our  lives  have  been  because  of 
their  friendships. 


Hawaiian  Legation,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  news  of  your  great  sorrow  has  reached  us,  and  I  hasten 
to  try  and  express  the  real  sympathy  we  all  feel  for  you  now.  How 
many  years  in  joy  and  sorrow  you  have  walked  together,  and  how  useful 
but  quiet  a  life  has  closed.  I  confess  that  I  feel  a  deep  and  real  grati- 
tude for  all  you  have  done  together  for  me  and  mine,  and  for  the  great 
number  of  young  people  who  have  come  under  your  influence  beside. 
May  "the  Comforter"  come  and  help  you  bear  your  loneliness. 

Accept  from  us  all  our  aloha  niii. 


Portland,  Oregon. 

The  saddest  telegram  I  ever  received  in  my  life  came  to  me  this 
morning,  bearing  the  terrible  news  that  our  beloved  Dr.  Mills  had 
passed  away. 

Well  may  I  weep  for  him,  for  no  scholar,  I  am  sure,  ever  had 
better  reason  to  know  of  his  great  kindness  of  heart  than  I. 


63 

Every  hour  of  this  day  some  fresh  expression  of  his  kindness  has 
risen  up  before  me;  the  watch  he  gave  me  is  to  me  sacred  now;  my 
graduating  ring  he  bought  me,  and  the  roses  I  wore  when  I  graduated 
he  picked  with  his  own  dear  hands;  how  I  wish  I  could  have  seen 
him  once  more. 

How  I  wish  it  was  in  my  power  to  speak  even  one  word  that  would 
carry  comfort  with  it;  but  I  can  only  commend  you  to  the  care  of  our 
blessed  Lord  and  Master,  who  was  Himself  a  man  of  sorrows  and 
acquainted  with  grief  May  He  send  down  upon  your  sorrowing 
heart  his  perfect  peace. 


Pomona,  Cal. 

The  melancholy  and  unexpected  news  of  your  husband's  death  has 
grieved  us  more  than  we  can  by  words  express,  and  we  beg,  although 
cornparative  strangers  to  yourself,  to  tender  to  you  our  heartfelt  sym- 
pathies. 

Permit  us  to  say,  that  in  his  life-time,  in  all  of  our  social  and  bus- 
iness relations,  we  evep  found  in  Doctor  Mills  a  kind  friend,  and 
a  man  whom  we  delighted  to  honor — one  whose  loss  is  deeply  felt  in 
this  community  by  all  to  whom  he  was  personally  known.  Again,  as 
earnest  friends,  we  tender  our  sympathies.     May  God  comfort  you ! 


Portland,  Me. 

It  seems  as  if  one  of  my  best  friends  had  gone.  Outside  of  our 
immediate  family  I  have  never  had  a  dearer  friend,  or  one  who  has 
done  more  for  me,  or  one  to  whom  I  have  been  more  truly  grateful, 
or  one  whom  I  have  more  loved  and  honored,  than  my  dear,  kind, 
generous  Dr.  Mills.     I  loved  him  very  much. 

You  know  I  am  not  one  of  many  words,  but  my  heart  is  true.  To 
think  of  the  dear  Seminary,  one  of  my  real  homes,  without  Dr. 
Mills,  I  cannot  ! 

There  is  not  a  day  in  the  year  that  my  thoughts  do  not  go  back  to 
you  and  the  Seminary,  and  all  my  happy  life  there;  and  to  think  of 
you  without  him.     Oh,  Mrs.  Mills,  it  seems  so  lonely  I 

But  he  isn't  so  very  far  away,  is  he  ?  Isn't  his  spirit  with  us  ?  .\nd 
doesn't  he  know  all  about  us,  just  as  if  he  were  here? 


64 

And  then,  how  happy  he  must  be  in  heaven  with  Christ,  and  all  his 
friends  who  have  gone  before.  I  shall  look  for  him  among  the  very 
first  when  I  get  there. 

I  who  have  seen  so  little  trouble  can  say  nothing  which  can  be  a 
comfort  to  you  who  have  seen  so  much,  except  that  you  have,  and 
ever  will  have,  the  deepest  sympathy  and  warmest  love  of  every  mem- 
ber of  our  family. 

Uncle  Leavitt  just  said,  "  I  guess  father  was  glad  to  see  Dr.  Mills." 
AVe  have  no  doubt  of  it,  and  to  think  of  them  in  this  pleasant  way 
makes  it  less  hard  for  us,  and  the  separation  not  so  trying. 


Pomona,  Cal. 

No  one  knows  how  highly  I  appreciate  the  trust  that  Dr.  Mills 
placed  in  me,  when  he  was  with  us.  No  one  can  know  how  sorely  I 
feel  his  loss.  While  I  had  a  chance  to  know  so  many  of  his  great 
plans,  I  had  a  chance  to  see  how  unselfish  was  his  every  action,  and 
how  wholly  he  had  the  good  of  this  little  community  at  heart.  While 
the  people  may  not  notice  any  great  change  in  the  affairs  of  this 
Company,  Pomona  and  we,  the  employees  of  this  Company,  can  nev- 
er replace  the  friend  we  have  lost. 


Napa,  Cal. 

Our  state,  our  country,  has  lost  one  of  its  noblest  men  ;  one  who 
has  left  such  a  memory  that  ages  cannot  obliterate  his  record.  As 
I  grow  older,  the  fact  of  the  unlimited  effect  of  influence  is  impressed 
more  strongly  upon  my  mind,  and  I  know  there  is  no  one  who  ap- 
preciates the  power  more  than  you.  Under  these  circumstances,  what 
an  enviable  happiness  must  be  yours  in  contemplation  of  his  life. 
The  moment  is  sad,  but  I  pray  you  may  rise  to  the  grandeur  of  his 
career.  The  welfare  of  so  many,  many  souls — his  crown  is  dazzling 
with  these  jewels,  and  he  is  honored  forever. 

When  the  supreme  moment  is  upon  us  it  is  not  riches,  it  is  not 
this  world's  glory,  that  counts ;  it  is  such  as  he  had  to  offer  which 
finds  favor  with  his  God. 


65 

Please  accept  my  tender  sympathy,  my  dear  Mrs.  Mills,  and  I  beg 
that  you  will,  whenever  you  are  disposed,  renew  the  little  visit  you 
made  some  time  ago. 


San  Francisco,  Cal. 

I  cannot  speak  fittingly  of  the  public  loss  in  Dr.  Mills'  death. 
Few  men  could  be  known  as  intimately  to  so  great  a  number,  because 
his  professional  and  private  life  were  inseparably  connected.  God 
gave  him  a  mission  in  teaching  the  young  women  of  California,  and 
founding  a  Seminary  destined  to  perpetuate  his  name  and  influence. 
How  worthily  and  nobly  and  generously  he  fulfilled  it  will  be  attested 
by  the  gratitude,  esteem,  and  sincere  regret  of  the  many,  many  hun- 
dreds who  have  been  educated  under  his  and  your  care  and  methods, 
according  to  the  ideas  and  principles  of  your  high  standard. 

Believe  me,  I  feel  for  you  in  every  pang  which  agonizes  you,  and 
every  tear  you  shed. 


Pasadena,  Cal. 

I  am  sure  no  friend  can  more  truly  and  deeply  share  your  grief 
I  cannot  say  how  pained  I  am  not  to  be  able  to  go  to  you. 

There  was  so  much  that  I  was  coming  to  say  to  Dr.  Mills  and 
yourself  I  have  hoped  that  once  more  you  were  called  to  plant  a 
noble  school  in  the  South  :  not  to  labor,  but  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  past 
labor,  while  seeing  another  child  born  in  your  age.  I  feel  that  so 
much  is  buried  with  your  husband,  besides  the  friend  we  loved,  that 
the  public  loss  will  be  felt  after  you  are  reunited.  He  had  so  much 
insight,  and  such  rare  ability  to  carry  out  his  unselfish  aims,  without 
friction.  I  have  felt  the  pangs  of  separation  too  often  not  to  know 
how  hard  it  is  to  be  asked  to  live  on  under  the  double  burden. 


Angel  Island,  Cal. 

I  want  to  thank  you  for  your  kind  thought  in  sending  me  a 
copy  of  the  Occident.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  unpleasant  weather, 
I  should  have   been  with   you   on   Tuesday  of  last  week.     Noth- 

E 


66 

ing  that  I  can  write  you  can,  in  the  smallest  measure,  comfort 
you  in  your  terrible  affliction.  Words  are  so  poor  at  these  times  to 
express  what  is  in  one's  heart.  I  can  only  assure  you  of  a  great  sym- 
pathy. There  are  many  things  connected  with  the  life  and  death  of 
dear  Dr.  Mills  which  must  be  to  you  great  consolation  in  your 
trial.  He  was  so  noble,  so  pure,  so  trustful,  and  so  generous;  and 
the  one  who  wrote  his  tribute  in  the  journal  you  sent  to  me  deserves 
the  heartfelt  thanks  of  all  who  knew  and  loved  him  best.  There  is 
a  world  of  tender  pathos  running  through  it,  truly  touching.  To 
those  he  has  left,  there  is  the  certainty  that  he  has  entered  into  that 
blessed  joy  which  is  promised  to  those  who  love  Him,  and  his  peace 
is  that  which  "  passeth  all  understanding."  Commending  you  to 
Him  who  doeth  all  things  well,  believe  me,  dear  Mrs.  Mills,  yours 
with  love. 


San  Francisco,  Cal. 

After  an  extended  absence  from  home,  almost  the  first  news  I  heard 
was  sad  news  of  the  great  and  irreparable  loss  you  had  sustained,  and 
with  you  each  of  your  old  pupils,  in  the  death  of  our  beloved  Prin- 
cipal, Dr.  Mills. 

Dr.  Mills'  goodness  and  ability,  and  the  hold  he  had  upon  the 
affection  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  make  his  loss  a  per- 
sonal one  to  each  of  us ;  and  I  am  sure  that  I,  like  all  the  old  pupils, 
feel  that  in  Dr.  Mills  we  have  lost  a  dear  and  true  friend,  almost  a 
father;  and  that  as  children  we  mourn  his  loss  with  you,  our  dear 
friend  and  almost  mother. 

I  feel  that  the  great  work  which  Dr.  Mills  and  yourself  have 
jointly  brought  to  so  happy  a  completion  is  his  fitting  monument; 
and  while  I  feel  that  no  words  of  sympathy,  however  sincere,  can 
tend  to  soften  your  terrible  loss,  I  still  know  that  in  your  good  work 
in  carrying  on  his  large  and  benevolent  ideas  you  will  find  your 
greatest  consolation;  and  that  you  will  also  appreciate  the  fact  that 
every  one  of  us  is  with  you,  heart  and  soul,  in  its  perfect  accomplish- 
ment.    Dear  Mrs.  Mills,  accept  my  profoundest  sympathy  and  love. 


67 

Pomona,  Cal. 

In  our  Missionary  Society  yesterday,  we  were  talking  over  the  sad 
news  that  came  to  us  from  your  home.  The  desire  was  expressed  that 
we,  as  a  Society,  send  you  some  words  of  sympathy  in  this  your  hour 
of  bereavement. 

I  was  appointed  to  write  to  you  in  the  name  of  our  Society,  and  I 
do  so  also  for  myself. 

Nothing  we  can  say  can  be  of  any  comfort  to  you,  for  you  know 
the  only  One  who  can  give  comfort  at  such  a  time.  Still,  you  might 
like  to  know  that  we  held  in  the  highest  esteem  him  whom  you 
mourn,  and  deeply  feel  our  loss. 

We,  as  a  Society,  looked  up  to  him,  trusted  him,  and  appreciated 
him  too,  if  I  may  judge  from  the  sentiments  uniformly  expressed  at 
our  meetings.  We  realize  that  we  should  not  have  a  church  of  our 
denomination  here,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  encouragement  and 
support  of  Dr.  Mills  during  the  first  year  of  its  existence.  We  shall 
always  remember  him  with  gratitude  for  the  good  he  has  done  our 
town  and  church,  and  for  the  kindness  he  has  always  shown  us. 

May  a  Father's  hand  sustain  you  in  your  affliction,  is  our  prayer. 


Dallas,  Texas. 

On  Saturday  morning  last  I  received  the  postal  inviting  me  to  the 
Alumnae.  On  reading  the  opening  lines  I  was  made  aware  for  the 
first  time  that  I  was  again  deprived  of  a  dear  friend.  How  can  I 
tell  you  my  sorrow  for  you,  or  how  my  heart  goes  out  to  you  in  your 
great  bereavement.     I  can  truly  sympathize  with  you. 

When  the  Occident  you  were  so  good  to  send  me  reached  me, 
I  felt  that  I  had  lost  a  second  father,  for  Dr.  Mills'  last  words  to 
me,  when  I  left  my  happy  school  home,  were:  "Nellie,  I  want  you 
to  look  upon  me  as  another  father,  and  this  as  your  second  home"  ; 
and  so  I  have.  Dear  Mrs.  Mills,  if  I  could  but  put  my  arms  about 
your  neck,  and  tell  you  how  thoroughly  I  loved  and  respected  him, 
and  how  my  heart  aches  for  you,  I  could  feel  better  ;  and  yet  I  could 
not  give  comfort  or  consolation  ;  that  can  only  come  from  Him  at 
whose  feet  both  you  and  Dr.  Mills  taught  me  to  kneel  in  the  full 
desire  to  live  for  Him. 


68 

My  mother  has  sent  me  papers  containing  obituary  notices  of  my 
more  than  friend.     She  wrote  me  she  felt  so  truly  sorry  for  you. 

I  can  hardly  see  what  I  have  written,  for  my  eyes  are  full  of  tears, 
but  I  feel  that  I  must  write  this  now.  It  is  the  third  time  I  have 
tried  to  write  you. 

My  husband  and  little  boy  send  their  sympathy  and  love  to  you. 
God  bless  and  comfort  you,  is  all  I  can  say. 


Walla  Walla,  Washington  Territory. 

Words  are  powerless  to  express  our  sorrow  on  the  receipt  of  such 
sad  tidings  as  came  last  week.  Yet,  though  the  beneficent  influ- 
ence of  the  actual  presence  of  our  revered  friend  may  not  be  felt, 
the  good  he  has  done  will  live  after  him,  and  the  influence  of  his  life 
work  will  be  found  in  many  generations  yet  to  come,  for  he  was  a  true 
man — and  what  more  can  be  said? 

To  me,  he  seemed  the  embodiment  of  patience,  kindness,  and  gen- 
tleness; and  to  you,  dear  friend,  who  knew  him  so  much  better  than 
his  pupils  possibly  could,  he  must  have  seemed  to  combine  all  vir- 
tues. If  any  are  to  be  rewarded  with  golden  crowns  and  spotless 
raiment,  then  surely  his  crown  will  be  filled  with  stars. 

What  a  happy  thought  it  is,  that  though  our  friends  slip  away  be- 
fore us,  it  is  only  that  they  may  be  ready  to  welcome  us  when  we  too 
reach  the  shining  gates. 


Honolulu. 

How  our  hearts  have  gone  out  to  you  these  past  three  days  in 
deepest  sympathy  for  the  great  loss  which  has  come  to  you  !  It  has 
come  so  suddenly  with  you,  we  can  hardly  realize  it.  Can  it  be  so, 
we  ask  ourselves  again  and  again — dear  Dr.  Mills  has  really  gone 
from  us  ?  To  you,  dearest  friend,  comes  the  greater  grief — the  great- 
er loss — but  to  us  comes  a  great  loss,  and  with  you  we  are  sorrowing. 
It  seems  as  if  in  Dr.  Mills' death,  death  had  entered  our  own  house- 
hold— had   cast  a  gloom  over  each  member.     We  all  loved   Dr. 


69 

Mills  ;  he  was  a  kind  friend,  and  to  many  of  us  more — a  father.  In 
thinking  of  him  I  am  so  beautifully  reminded  of  the  many  times  and 
ways  when  we  have  met  his  dear  face,  his  kindly  manner,  and  pleas- 
ant words —  how  all  come  back  to  mind  ;  and  what  a  record  his  to 
leave  behind — a  blessed  memory  for  our  keeping.  It  was  so  kind  of 
you,  dearest  friend,  to  write  us  in  the  midst  of  the  first  shock  of  keen 
suffering,  and  to  send  us  the  papers.  Miss  Ward,  who  is  spending  the 
week  with  us,  and  was  anxious  to  learn  all  particulars,  shared  with  us 
papers  and  letters,  and  after  first  tidings,  which  came  to  us  by  the 
Dimond,  it  was  so  gratifying  to  receive  such  full  accounts.  Were 
not  love  and  esteem  truly  shown  in  the  rare  decorations  of  flowers  so 
appropriate — these  last  gifts  to  honor  the  dead,  who  in  life  was  so 
fond  of  flowers? 

How  I  wish  I  was  near  you,  dear  Mrs.  Mills;  could  put  my  arms 
about  you,  and  tell  you  of  my  love  and  sympathy.  I  know  you  have 
numerous  friends  about  you,  who  with  tender  love  are  doing  every- 
thing, for  your  comfort,  and  that  you  have  a  divine  power  to  sustain 
and  comfort  you,  which  is  all  in  all:  but  such  must  be  our  wish,  and 
the  wish  of  every  distant  friend,  to  be  near  you  at  this  time  of  your 
sreat  sorrow. 


Press   Notices. 


!Bt;ei^^   St-o-tice^, 


(The  Pacific,  San  Francisco.) 

The  death  of  Cyrus  T.  Mills,  Sunday  morning  last,  removes  a 
man  who  has  done  notable  work  for  education  in  our  State.  He  has 
done  it  so  quietly,  too.  We  are  reminded  of  that  temple  in  the  erec" 
tion  of  which  was  not  heard  the  sound  of  hammer  or  axe.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  name  the  man  who  had  less  ostentation  or  pretension. 
To  meet  him,  passing  to  and  fro,  you  would  not  have  thought  of  him 
as  great  or  prominent.  He  made  no  figure  in  conventions  :  his  con- 
tributions to  the  press  were  few ;  his  speeches  were  not  many,  and 
those  he  did  make  were  brief  and  simple.  Yet  where  is  the  man  of 
our  State  who  has  left  behind  him,  or  seems  likely  to  leave  behind  him, 
so  substantial  an  educational  work  as  he?  Substantial  in  more  than 
one  sense ;  for  the  bare  item  of  money  invested  by  him  in  education 
runs  up  to  a  sum  which  has  not  yet  been  equalled,  that  we  know  of,  by 
any  of  our  millionaires.  But  he  gave  more,  for  he  put  all  his  life  into 
it  for  these  twenty  years  of  his  residence  among  us. 

Cyrus  Taggart  Mills  was  born  in  Paris,  New  York,  and  if  he 
had  lived  to  the  4th  of  May,  would  have  completed  sixty-five  years. 
Of  his  Eastern  life  and  circumstances  before  entering  college  we  are 
not  informed.  But  he  always  deemed  himself  fortunate  in  having 
pursued  his  collegiate  studies  at  Williams,  and  at  the  feet  of  Mark 
Hopkins,  for  whom  he  felt  the  warmest  admiration  and  gratitude. 
That  rare  teacher's  methods  left  upon  Dr.  Mills  a  deep  and  fruitful 
impress.  After  graduating  in  1844,  he  pursued  and  completed  his 
theological  studies  at  Union  Seminary  in  New  York  City.  He  was 
married  at  Ware,  Mass.,  to  Susan  L.  Tolman,  in  1848,  and  in  October 
of  that  year  sailed  for  Madras  as  missionary  of  the  American  Board. 
He  was  stationed  in  Ceylon.  There  for  five  years  he  was  Principal 
of  the  Batticotta  Seminary.     Broken  in  health   he  was  obliged   to 


74 

return  to  America.  For  some  two  years  he  made  himself  useful  to 
the  cause  he  loved  by  addresses  to  the  contributing  churches  in 
various  parts  of  our  country.  He  was  settled,  also,  over  the  church  in 
Berkshire,  N.  Y.,  for  two  years.  He  spent  two  years  more  in  busi- 
ness at  Ware,  Mass.  In  i860  he  became  president  of  Oahu  College, 
near  Honolulu,  succeeding  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beckwith  of  this  city  in  that 
position.  Of  his  efficiency  in  this,  as  well  as  the  other  occupations, 
doubtless  others  will  fitly  speak.  The  climate  of  the  islands  was  not 
vitalizing  enough  for  a  constitution  which  had  already  been  under- 
mined in  Ceylon,  and  he  came  to  California.  After  a  temporary  ser- 
vice in  the  Oakland  Seminary,  in  October,  1865,  he  became  the  suc- 
cessor of  Miss  Atkins,  at  Benicia,  and  the  owner  of  that  pioneer 
institution  for  young  ladies.  It  was  reopened  under  his  care  with  thir- 
ty-eight boarding  scholars,  and  grew  steadily  till  it  became  impossible 
to  accommodate,  within  those  narrow  limits,  the  young  women  who 
applied  for  admission.  Dr.  Mills  meanwhile  prospered  financially, 
and  had  acquired  the  beautiful  landed  property  in  Brooklyn  township 
which  seemed  so  choice  a  site  for  a  permanent  seat  of  learning. 
With  the  cooperation  of  some  energetic  and  liberal  friends,  he  was 
enabled  to  erect  the  noble  building  now  known  as  the  home  of  the 
Seminary  which  bears  his  name.  One  hundred  and  sixty-five  thous- 
and dollars  were  invested  at  first  in  this  venture.  The  property  was 
in  his  own  nanie,  and  largely,  predominantly,  his  own  creation.  In 
187 1  the  School  was  transferred  to  the  new  place.  We  need  not 
state  the  familiar  fact  of  its  continued  progress.  During  these  nearly 
twenty  years,  as  many  as  three  hundred  young  women  have  received 
diplomas,  of  graduation  at  his  hands,  and  they  can  and  do  speak  for 
him  better  than  any  of  us.  This  institution,  so  fitly  situated  and  so  well 
furnished,  Dr.  Mills  deeded  to  a  Board  of  Trustees  some  years  ago 
— a  noble  dedication  in  trustworthy  hands.  For  a  few  years  since  he 
has  conducted  it  in  their  interest,  and  in  such  a  way  as  to  free  it  from 
the  $50,000  debt  which  rested  upon  it  at  the  time  of  the  transfer  of 
the  property.  He  had  in  hand  other  plans  which  he  deemed  hope- 
ful, by  which  he  fondly  wished  to  do  still  greater  things  for  the  i)ur- 
pose  which  has  crowned  his  years.  "  Some  things  more  I  wanted  to 
finish."  But  his  little  strength  was  nearly  all  exhausted  ;  so  when  the 
bruised  arm  developed  into  an  unhealed  sore,  and  amputation  became 
necessary,  there    was  no  rallying  power    to  sustain    the  shock    and 


75 

'expel  the  poison.  In  a  few  hours  after  the  skill  of  the  surgeons  had 
given  not  a  little  expectation  of  relief,  he  began  to  sink  as  quietly  and 
undemonstratively  away  as  he  had  quietly  and  undemonstratively 
Jived.  "I  cannot  think,"  he  said,  "but  I  trust."  In  his  case,  trust 
had  been  long  placed  in  Him  who  is  the  resurrection  and  the  life. 

Rev.  George  Mooar,  D.  D. 


(Daily  Evening  Bulletin,  San  Francisco.) 
A  few  days  ago  the  funeral  of  a  man  was  attended  near  this  city 
who  had  done  more  for  education  in  California  than  any  other  indi- 
vidual in   the  history  of  the    State.     He    was  not  a   millionaire,  not 
even  a  rich  man  as  the  world  counts  wealth.    He  probably  never  had 
a  hundred  thousand  dollars  at  his  command  at  any  one  time  in  his 
life.     Yet  he  founded  an  institute  of  learning,  gave  to  it  the  greater 
part  of  his  fortune,  and  then  put  it  in  the    hands  of  trustees  for  the 
benefit  of  the  public.     It  is  impossible  to  estimate  the  gift  in  dollars 
and  cents.     It  is  true  that  he  asked  the  public  to  help  him,  and  the 
response  was,  on  the  whole,  liberal.     Yet  Mills  Seminary  was  found- 
ed through  the  influence  of  one  man,  who  gave  his  name  to  the  in- 
:stitution.     That  has  become  his  monument.     When  he  died,  he  left 
something  behind  him.     He  unconsciously  built  his  own  monument. 
Money,  in  his  view,  was    desirable  as  a  means  of  doing    good.     He 
had  good  executive  ability,  and  he  turned  this  to  account  to  free,  as 
far  as  possible,  the  institution  which  he  had    founded   from    debt. 
When  this  man  came  to  the  State  he  had  nearly  or  quite  reached 
middle  life.     He  had  devoted  the  best  years  of  his  life  to  missionary 
and  educational  work  in  foreign  lands.     Perhaps  he  brought  $20,- 
000  with  him,  hardly  more,  and  this  the  result  of  a  life  of  toil  and 
;savings  in  a  small  way.     He  devoted  all  he  had  for  the  promotion  of 
education  in  this  State.     His  small  savings  grew,  and  he  was  finally 
able  to  buy  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Seminary  which  he  founded. 
He  embarked  to  some    extent  in  outside  business,  declaring  always 
that  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  putting  the  institution  on  a  better  foun- 
dation.    When  this  man  died  and  his  will  was  published,  it  was  seen 
that  he  had  kept  the  faith.     After  making  a  moderate  provision  for 
his  widow,  he  turned  over  his  remaining    property  to  the  trustees  of 
the  Seminary. 


76 

CvRUS  T.  Mills  was  in  a  broad  sense  a  founder.  He  lived  long 
enough  to  see  the  institution  which  he  had  founded  in  a  j^rosperous 
condition.  Perhaps  his  ideal  was  not  entirely  reached.  Had  he 
lived  longer  the  Seminary  might,  by  a  natural  process  of  evolution, 
have  developed  into  a  female  college,  the  seminary  department  be- 
ing only  preparatory  to  the  still  higher  educational  work.  The  Di- 
vine Teacher  once  said  of  a  woman  who  had  cast  a  mite  into  the 
treasury,  that  she  had  given  more  than  all  the  rich  who  had  cast  in 
their  gifts,  because  she  had  given  all  that  she  had.  Dr.  Mills  gave 
nearly  all  that  he  had.  He  was  never  rich  ;  but  he  has  enriched  the 
public.  When  such  a  man  dies,  it  is  fitting  to  take  some  account  of 
his  work.  It  is  time  to  forget  his  idiosyncracies,  the  mere  foibles 
and  excrescences,  whatever  they  may  be,  which  do  not  go  to  the 
making  up  of  any  essential  thing  in  his  character,  and  to  remember 
in  what  way  he  wrought  best  for  the  public  good.  And  so  to-day  this 
man,  whose  life  was  so  unobtrusive,  is  entitled  to  a  place  at  the  head 
of  the  educational  benefactors  of  the  State. 

Perhaps  he  never  claimed  as  much.  But  after  all,  that  is  a  most 
successful  life  when  one  goes  on  his  way  with  his  best  work  upon  an 
institution  which  he  has  founded,  and  which  has  in  it  the  promise  of 
abiding  for  many  generations.  The  thousands  of  young  women  who 
may  be  educated  there  will,  in  some  large  sense,  participate  in  the 
benefits  which  this  one  man  secured  in  his  busy,  planning,  and  in- 
dustrious life.  And  since  there  are  so  few  educational  founders  in 
California,  it  is  well  to  take  a  faithful  account  of  their  work.  Dr. 
Mills  now  does  not  stand  alone,  by  any  means,  in  the  work  of  build- 
ing up  educational  institutions  in  this  State.  But  it  is  fitting  to  say 
of  him  that  he  was  prominent  in  consecrating  his  modest  fortune  to 
such  uses,  and  that  devoting  his  life  to  the  same  grand  purpose  he 
became  preeminently  the  leading  educational  founder  in  California. 
What  he  did  with  his  moderate  means,  it  would  be  possible  for  many 
another  to  do  with  the  great  fortunes  which  have  been  accumulated 
in  this  State.  Not  that  every  rich  man  is  called  upon  to  found  a 
new  educational  institution.  Only  he  might  well  consider  his  rela- 
tions to  a  State  which  has  enabled  him  to  make  his  fortune.  He 
might,  at  least,  become  a  founder  to  the  extent  of  fellowship,  scholar- 
shi]),  or  chair  of  instruction.  The  State  in  this  respect  needs  more 
founders.     The   number   is  surprisingly   small,    and  it  appears   the 


77 

■smaller  in  view  of  the  wealth  which  has  been  acquired  here.  The  ac- 
counts of  wrecked  fortunes  multiply  of  late.  It  is  not  pleasant  read- 
ing. Looking  over  the  accounts  of  the  disappearance  of  five  or  six 
millions,  the  vanishing  fortune  of  single  individuals,  one  is  led  to 
exclaim — So  much  and  yet  so  little !  Nothing  for  the  public,  nothing 
for  a  single  institution  of  education  or  charity;  but  all  for  self!  Why 
should  the  memory  of  any  man  who  has  grand  opportunities  go  into 
utter  oblivion  ? 

The  key  of  Ezra  Cornell's  life  is  disclosed  in  the  words  in  which 
he  declared  his  purpose  to  found  a  great  institution  of  learning:  "I 
would  found  an  institution  where  any  person  can  find  instruction  in 
any  study."  He  lives  to-day  as  the  founder  of  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  important  educational  institutions  in  the  country.  Had 
Ezra  Cornell  wrecked  his  fortune  in  rash  and  foolish  speculations,  it 
would  have  been  little  to  the  world.  The  whole  account  would  have 
been  included  in  one  of  the  brief  news  paragraphs  of  the  day.  He 
anchored  his  fortune  for  the  benefit  of  posterity.  The  three  or  more 
millions  which  he  gave  first  and  last  was,  with  a  single  exception,  the 
largest  gift  ever  made  by  an  American  citizen  for  the  cause  of  public 
education.  The  founder  builds  upon  the  rock.  The  Divine  Teach- 
er draws  attention  to  the  two  classes  of  founders,  one  of  which  built 
upon  the  sand  and  the  other  upon  the  rock.  The  unfounded  for- 
tune disappears.  It  is  three  millions  to-day  and  ten  millions  to-mor- 
row, all  passing  the  vanishing  point.  Nothing  has  been  founded. 
The  list  of  founders  increases,  only  the  increase  is  very  slow.  Not 
every  man  of  wealth  is  called  to  found  a  new  institution  ;  but  he  has 
a  call  to  consider  what  work  of  his  is  to  abide.  In  his  way,  Cyru.s 
Mills  wrought  as  well  as  Cornell.  Both  wrought,  according  to  the 
means  which  they  could  command.  Men  die,  but  institutions  and 
the  memory  of  their  founders  survive. 


(Daily  Tribune,  Oakland,  Cal.) 
"  He  is  not  dead  but  sleepeth."  Such  were  the  words  with  which  a 
representative  of  this  paper  was  ushered  yesterday  morning  into  a  lit- 
tle room  at  Mills  Seminary,  where  in  his  narrow  couch  lay  the  dead 
body  of  its  founder.  Calm  and  ])eaceful  was  the  expression  on  the  be- 


78 

nignant  face.  No  trace  of  pain  or  of  care,  but  a  look  of  resignation ;  a 
look  that  said  to  the  beholder  more  emphatically  than  could  any 
eulog}',  "That  man  was  a  good  man."  In  the  presence  of  the  august 
dead  the  spacious  building  was  hushed.  Sombre  figures  flitted  noise- 
lessly back  and  forth  through  the  darkened  rooms  and  long  corridors. 
Here  and  there  were  congregated  a  group  of  the  earlier  arrivals,  whis- 
pering quietly  of  the  loss  which  had  been  sustained  by  that  commun- 
ity, among  which  the  dead  educator  had  wrought  such  a  widespread 
and  such  a  healthful  influence.  Within  the  chapel,  sympathetic  hands 
were  putting  the  final  touches  to  the  beautiful  tributes  of  affection  and 
gratitude  that  everywhere  spoke  of  the  joys  and  glories  of  the  resur- 
rection. The  chapel  was  filled  with  flowers,  and  the  disposition  of 
the  designs,  as  well  as  the  composition  of  many  of  them,  was  the  work 
of  one  of  Mr.  Mills'  oldest  pupils,  Miss  Mary  Bates.  One  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  touching  tributes  was  a  field  of  ripened  wheat, 
half  of  which  was  standing,  and  half  had  fallen  before  the  reaper's 
scythe.  Amid  the  golden  blades,  cut  down  in  the  fruition  of  their  vig- 
or, was  inscribed  in  letters  formed  of  violets  the  one  word  "  Gathered." 
Many  friends  stopped  to  meditate  before  this  beautiful  thought,  and 
as  they  stood  there,  a  dew,  but  not  from  heaven,  fell  and  glistened 
upon  the  golden  grain. 

The  tribute  of  the  Teachers  of  the  institution  also  drew  forth  whis- 
pered admiration  from  many.  It  was  a  floral  column,  about  five  feet 
in  height,  resting  upon  a  massive  pedestal  of  the  choicest  blossoms. 
The  column  itself  was  composed  of  camellias,  white  roses,  lilies  of 
the  annunciation,  and  was  surmounted  by  a  garland  of  black  velvet 
pansies.  The  Junior  Class  contributed  a  beautiful  floral  star,  its  five 
points  bordered  with  black  pansies,  enclosing  within  its  sombre  lines 
hundreds  of  snowy  camellias  and  roses.  The  star  was  surmounted 
by  a  white  dove.  The  off'ering  of  the  Senior  Class  was  an  immense 
floral  pillow,  with  the  words,  "Our  Benefactor,"  inscribed  in  violets, 
across  its  face.  Above  the  platform  one  of  the  objects  that  first 
struck  the  eye  was  an  admirable  portrait  of  the  honored  dead,  draped 
with  heavy  black  velvet,  over  which  hung  several  sprays  of  luxuriant 
white  roses.  On  one  side  of  the  jjulpit,  which  was  also  draped  in 
black,  was  a  beautiful  cross,  offered  by  the  working-men  employed 
at  the  institution.  By  its  side  was  a  design  representing  an  anchor 
and  cross.     At  another  point  on  the  platform  was  a  white  dove,  rest- 


79 

ing  with  pinions  outstretched  upon  a  bed  of  dark  green.  Against 
the  dark  drapery  of  the  pulpit,  already  spoken  of,  were  placed 
bunches  of  white  snowballs,  gracefully  drooping  over  a  pillow  of  dark 
pansies  at  the  base.  At  the  left  of  the  pulpit  was  the  offering  of  the 
Junior  Middle  Class,  a  large  anchor  on  a  standard  of  white  flowers. 
Still  further  to  the  left  was  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  floral 
pieces,  "  The  Gates  Ajar,"  offered  by  the  Senior  Middle  Class  in  loving 
memory  of  their  dead  friend  and  instructor.  It  was  a  massive  arch  of 
flowers,  five  feet  in  height,  surmounted  by  a  white  star,  while  from 
the  center  of  the  arch  was  suspended  a  crown,  breathing  a  pathetic 
message  through  its  blue  forget-me-nots  and  white  daisies.  The 
arch  itself  was  composed  mainly  of  white  camellias,  roses,  azaleas, 
and  lilies  of  the  annunciation.  At  the  base,  and  between  the  sides 
of  the  arch,  were  the  symbolic  gates,  made  of  dark  pansies,  and  swung 
half  open.  A  design  of  a  similar  character  was  given  by  the  Junior 
Class,  though  differing  somewhat  in  its  materials,  the  gates  being  of 
white  saffron  roses,  swung  wide  open.  Prof.  Louis  Lisser  sent  a  beau- 
tiful wreath  of  white  roses  and  camellias,  in  the  center  of  which  was  a 
cross  of  heliotrope.  Prof  Kelleher,  and  others  from  far  and  near, 
sent  lovely  floral  offerings.  The  organ  at  the  back  of  the  platform 
was  almost  hidden  by  a  veil  of  tea  roses  and  other  delicate  blooms. 
Indeed,  it  was  a  noticeable  feature  of  the  floral  decorations,  that  col- 
ored flowers  were  present  in  perhaps  greater  profusion  than  were 
white. 

Mrs.  Mills  is  bearing  her  great  grief  with  Christian  resignation,  and 
is  as  well  as  could,  under  the  circumstances,  be  expected.  It  has 
been  no  small  comfort  to  her  in  this,  the  darkest  hour  of  her  life,  to 
receive  so  many  messages  of  loving  condolence  as  have  arrived  dur- 
ing the  last  few  hours.  From  nearly  every  State  in  the  Union  have 
come  affectionate  expressions  of  sympathy,  mainly  from  pupils  of 
former  days. 

The  rain,  which  began  to  descend  at  about  11.30  o'clock,  did  not 
deter  the  many  friends  of  the  family  and  the  Institution  from  being 
present,  and  at  one  o'clock  they  began  to  assemble  in  the  Chapel 
where  the  services  were  held.  At  the  beginning  of  the  services  it  was 
announced  that,  owing  to  the  storm,  the  burial  would  not  take  place 
to-day,  but  would  be  private. 

At  1.30  o'clock  the  bell  of  the  Seminary  tolled  slowly,  and  announced 


8o 

that  the  hour  of  the  last  sad  rites  had  arrived,  the  casket  being  borne 
by  the  following  trustees:  Hon.  A.  J.  Bryant,  of  San  Francisco;  the 
Rev.  Doctors  F.  A.  Horton  and  J.  H.  Wythe,  of  Oakland;  Rev.  C. 
D.  Barrows,  of  San  Francisco;  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  S.  Beckwith,  of  San 
Francisco;  the  Rev.  R.  L.  Tabor,  of  Alameda;  the  Rev.  T.  K. 
Noble,  of  San  Francisco;  Judges  E.  D.  Sawyer  and  Hon.  M.  H.  My- 
rick,  of  San  Francisco ;  David  Hewes,  of  Oakland;  and  Robert  Sim- 
son,  of  Seminary  Park.  After  the  pall-bearers  had  taken  their  places 
on  the  platform  the  services  were  begun  by  a  prayer  offered  by  the 
Rev.  E.  S.  Beckwith,  which  was  followed  by  an  anthem  by  the  choir, 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Alfred  Kelleher.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Horton 
then  read  a  very  appropriate  passage  from  the  Gospel  of  St.  John.  A 
most  impressive  address  was  then  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tabor, 
of  Alameda,  who  took  for  his  th'eme  the  words  "  God  is  good,"  and 
after  an  eloquent  introduction  spoke  at  length  of  Dr.  Mills'  life  and 
of  the  foundation  of  the  Seminary.  The  choir  then  sang  a  chant 
which  was  a  favorite  one  with  Dr.  Mills  in  his  earlier  years,  and 
which  he  had  not  heard  since  the  time  when  he  was  admitted  to  the 
ministry,  until  a  month  before  his  death.  Addresses  of  great  impres- 
siveness  were  then  made  by  Rev.  Chas.  Dana  Barrows,  and  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Wythe,  who  paid  an  affectionate  tribute  to  the  worth  of  Dr. 
Mills  as  a  man,  a  scholar,  and  a  Christian.  The  Rev.  T.  K.  Noble, 
on  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  offered  a  series  of  resolutions  of 
respect  and  sympathy,  after  which  the  choir  sang  an  anthem.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Patterson,  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery  of  San  Francisco, 
paid  in  behalf  of  that  body  a  high  tribute  to  the  great  work  of  Dr. 
Mills.     After  the  benediction  the  congregation  dispersed. 

The  inclemency  of  the  weather  prevented  the  interment  from  tak- 
ing place  to-day,  and  marred,  to  a  great  extent,  the  decorations  of 
the  grave,  which  were  seen  by  the  wTiter  before  the  rain  began.  Not 
a  clod  of  earth  was  visible.  All  had  been  carefully  hid  from  sight  by 
white  cloth,  over  which  were  lavishly  strewed  flowers  of  the  same  color. 
The  four  sides  of  the  grave  were  lined  with  this  floral  curtain,  while 
the  bottom  was  filled  with  the  purest  lilies.  All  that  youthful  hearts, 
quickened  by  ardent  sympathy,  could  do  to  heal  the  bitter  sting  of  death 
and  to  rob  the  grave  of  its  horrors  was  done.  And  perhaps  this  trib- 
ute, rather  than  the  many  tributes  of  sympathy  already  described,  are 
Dr.  Mills'  best  memorials.  On  each  side  of  the  grave  was  a  heap 
of  lilies,  completely  screening  the  earth  from  sight. 


8i 


(The  Argonaut,  San  Francisco.) 

The  Rev.  Cyrus  T.  Mills,  D.  D.,  who  recently  died,  was  a  bene- 
factor to  the  State.  Since  his  first  advent  here  as  principal  of  the 
Benicia  Seminary,  1865,  to  the  day  of  his  death,  he  continually  stud- 
ied the  welfare  of  the  people  of  California.  In  187 1,  aided  by  the  inad- 
equate pecuniary  assistance  of  friends,  he  started  Mills  Seminary.  By 
his  noble  efforts  and  wise  business  management  the  institution  is  now 
worth  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars.  This  magnificent  proper- 
tv  he  turned  over  to  the  State  for  the  future  benefit  of  its  womanhood. 
The  scholarships  for  the  education  of  young  women  possessing  scanty 
means  amount  to  twenty  thousand  dollars.  Throughout  the  Union 
are  scattered  nearly  two  thousand  of  Dr.  Mills'  former  pupils,  exert- 
ing mighty  influence  as  mothers,  wives  and  daughters.  The  numerous 
business  enterprises  which  Dr.  Mills  conducted  to  successful  issues 
all  tended  to  the  improvement  of  the  seminary  property.  ()n  the 
eighty-five  acres  surrounding  the  large  building  are  forests  of  young 
trees,  large  orchards  of  rare  fruit,  and  produce  of  every  kind  needed 
for  the  support  of  the  institution.  The  funeral  obsequies  were  ex- 
ceedingly impressive.  Pupils  came  from  all  over  the  State,  and  hun- 
dreds sent  letters  of  sympathy.  Dr.  Mills'  remains  are  buried  on 
the  hill  near  the  little  Seminary  chapel. 


(The  Occident,  San  Francisco.) 

1  did  not  get  the  news  of  his  death  until  too  late  to  go  to  the  fu- 
neral. I  knew  him  first  in  Union  Seminary,  New  York,  in  1846.  He 
was  one  of  a  band  of  students  who  had  given  themselves  to  the  work 
of  foreign  missions,  and  who  met  every  Saturday  morning  in  a  room 
in  the  fourth  story  of  the  old  seminary  building  on  University  i'lace. 
These  Saturday  morning  meetings  were  the  most  tender  and  si)iritual 
that  I  ever  attended.  The  twenty-five  young  men  who  met  together 
expected  soon  to  be  scattered  all  over  the  heathen  world,  and  they 
sought  to  strengthen  each  other  by  Christian  converse  and  prayer. 
Some  of  that  band  of  men  are  still  laboring  in  the  foreign  fields. 
Many  of  them  have  died  on  missionary  ground  ;  a  few  returned  on 
account  of  failing  health,    and    are    doing    good    service    at    home. 

F 


82 

Among  this  latter  class  is  our  excellent  Publication  Secretary,  Rev. 
J.  W.  Dulles,  D.  D. 

Cyrus  Mills,  though  a  very  modest  and  quiet  man,  was  so  earnest, 
warm-hearted  and  pious  that  he  was  a  leading  spirit  in  the  associa- 
tion. He  had  a  personal  magnetism  which  drew  his  fellow  students 
to  him,  and  gave  him  great  influence  over  them.  He  was  not  bril- 
liant as  a  writer  or  speaker,  but  he  was  an  excellent  scholar,  and  had 
a  great  deal  of  sanctified  common  sense  and  executive  ability.  These 
qualities  have  given  him  success  in  India,  in  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
and  in  California.  His  life  and  work  on  this  coast  are  so  well  known 
that  I  need  not  write  them.  But  of  his  student  life  and  early  mis- 
sionary spirit  I  write,  because  there  is,  I  believe,  no  other  fellow  stu- 
dent of  his  on  this  side  of  the  mountains.  He  never  sought  great 
things  for  himself.  He  toiled  only  to  do  good  :  and  what  a  monu- 
ment he  has  erected  to  transmit  the  memory  of  his  energy  and  of  his 
benevolence  to  coming  generations  !  C.  E.  Babb. 

Laurel  Ranch,  April  24,  1884. 


(The  Times,  Pomona,  Cal.) 

This  community  was  pained  to  learn  of  the  death,  on  last  Sunday 
morning,  of  Rev.  C.  T.  Mills,  D.  D.  He  had  been  for  some  months 
suffering  with  a  disease  of  the  elbow  joint,  caused  by  a  low  state  of 
the  system,  and  on  Saturday  last  it  was  thought  necessary  to  ampu- 
tate the  arm  near  the  shoulder,  as  the  only  chance  of  saving  his  life. 
The  physicians  feared  that  the  pus  generated  by  the  caries  would  pen- 
etrate the  veins  or  arteries  and  produce  blood  poisoning,  and  the  am- 
putation was  performed  to  avert  that  consummation.  The  shock  of 
the  amputation  did  not  seem  to  affect  him  seriously.  Shortly  after  he 
rallied,  and  appeared  improving  until  up.  m.  Saturday,  when  a  chill 
occurred  that  lasted  half  an  hour.  From  that  time  he  rapidly  sank. 
He  retained  consciousness  until  a  half  hour  before  his  death.  Mr. 
Mills  was  at  one  time  a  missionary  in  the  Sandwich  Islands  and  in 
India.  He  came  to  California  in  1858,  and  soon  thereafter  took 
charge  of  the  Benicia  Seminary.  In  187 1  he  established  an  Edu- 
cational Institution  at  Seminary  Park,  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
Mills  Seminary,  and  through  his  untiring  labors,  that  now  ranks  as 


83 

one  of  the  finest  educational  institutions  in  the  land.  But  he  is 
best  known  to  our  people  through  his  connection  with  the  Pomona 
Land  and  Water  Company,  and  his  active  efforts  in  developing  the 
water  supply  and  other  material  resources  of  our  valley.  Early  in 
1882,  in  company  with  Mr.  M.  L.  Wicks,  of  Los  Angeles,  he  pur- 
chased the  Pomona  tract  from  Mr.  Louis  Phillip,  as  well  as  other 
large  tracts  of  land  in  the  valley,  and  immediately  commenced  the 
development  of  the  water  sup]jly.  From  the  time  of  his  commencing 
active  operations  Pomona  dates  its  era  of  settlement  and  growth.  In 
the  fall  of  1882  the  Pomona  Land  and  Water  Company  was  organ- 
ized, and  succeeded  the  firm  of  Mills  &  Wicks  in  the  owners-hip  of 
the  lands  which  had  been  acquired  by  the  latter.  Mr.  Mills  became 
the  President  of  the  new  corporation,  and  held  that  position  at  the 
time  of  his  decease.  He  at  all  times  manifested  a  lively  interest  in 
the  welfare  and  upbuilding  of  our  town  and  valley.  Although  the 
work  which  he  inaugurated  here  will  be  carried  on  by  the  Company 
of  which  he  was  the  active  and  honored  President,  this  community 
can  but  feel  that  it  has  lost  an  active  friend,  an  earnest  worker  for  its 
well  being;  and  will  cherish  his  memory  even  while  rejoicing  in  the 
prosperity  which  has  been  in  great  part  achieved  through  his  instru- 
mentality. 


(The  Times,  Pomona,  Cal.) 

Last  Sabbath  evening,  before  the  sermon,  Rev.  O.  C.  Weller  spoke 
as  follows  with  reference  to  the  death  of  Dr.  Mills: 

The  sad,  and  to  most  of  us  unexpected  news  of  the  death  of  Dr. 
C.  T.  Mills,  reached  us  this  morning  just  at  the  close  of  service. 

This  is  a  blow  that  we  of  this  community  must  all  feel.  Dr.  Mills 
was  the  widely  known  and  much  loved  President  of  Mills  Seminary  ; 
the  active  and  efficient  President  of  the  Pomona  Land  and  Water 
Company,  and  the  generous  and  magnanimous  President  of  our 
Church  Board  of  Trustees.  But  this  people  knows  him  best  as  the 
frail,  nervous,  tireless,  genial,  generous,  and  large-hearted  planner  and 
organizer,  who  has  made  the  sleepy,  unknown  town  of  Pomona  waken, 
and  grow,  and  bloom,  and  blossom,  and  waft  the  perfume  of  its 
orange  blossoms  throughout  all  the  States. 


84 

Few  men  ever  prosecuted  a  business  enterprise  with  a  better  and 
more  unselfish  purpose  than  Dr.  Mills  prosecuted  the  business 
which  has  marked  the  development  of  Pomona.  Not  all  of  us  know, 
though  some  of  us  do,  of  his  liberal  and  generous  plans  for  the 
future — how  he  had  in  his  mind  and  heart  large  things  and  benefi- 
cent things  for  this  child  of  his  love  and  old  age. 

This  is  not  the  time  for  a  full  and  complete  obituary  of  our  de- 
ceased benefactor.  I  only  pause  a  moment  to  voice  the  sentiment  of 
all  our  people  in  the  community,  and  in  the  town,  and  in  the  church, 
expressive  of  our  loss,  our  sorrow,  and  our  sympathy. 

Not  soon  again  will  Pomona  find  so  generous  and  so  large-hearted 
a  benefactor.  Not  soon  again  will  this  church  find  another  so  liberal 
and  so  unselfish  a  supporter. 

We  bow  our  hearts  in  humble  recognition  of  God's  chastening  hand. 
The  Doctor's  personal  work  is  over.  His  example,  his  influence  and 
his  gifts  are  still  ours.  Let  us  cherish  them  with  grateful  thanks  to 
God  for  having  given  us  such  a  friend.  Let  our  prayers  and  sympa- 
thies go  out  in  behalf  of  the  bereaved  wife,  who  is  also  our  friend  and 
benefactress;  and  let  us  cherish  the  memory  of  so  good  and  magnani- 
mous a  man,  and  take  up  the  work  where  he  has  left  it,  and  carry  it 
on  in  the  fear  of  God  and  for  the  glory  of  his  cause. 


"  He   giveth    his   Beloved    sleep." 


B  4  £»  ^ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  LOS  ANGELES 

THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

AT 
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IJBR.ARY 


LD 

7251  In  meiTiOria.' 

C2513Li6i     Rev.    Cyriu 

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